SATKHIRA, Mar 26: Children and youth from Mathureshpur Union in Kaliganj Upazila, Satkhira District, have taken an inspiring initiative to conserve birds and restore environmental balance.
By installing artificial bird nests and raising awareness among local people, they are working to create safe habitats for birds.
Once, Mathureshpur Union was known for its rich biodiversity and diverse bird species. Birds played a vital role in maintaining ecological balance by controlling insects and dispersing seeds. However, in recent years, climate change, frequent cyclones, rising temperatures, and various human activities-especially indiscriminate tree cutting and the expansion of brick kilns-have significantly reduced the bird population. As a result, birds have begun losing their natural nesting sites.
To address this situation, under the Breaking the Silence SPiRiT CALL project, 180 groups were formed, each with 15 members aged 12-15 and 16-24 years, half of whom are female. These children and youths participated in life-skills sessions where they learned about leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and social responsibility. Through discussions, they identified the destruction of bird habitats as a major environmental issue in their area.
After identifying the problem, they took a practical initiative. To ensure safe living and breeding opportunities for birds, they planned to install artificial nests. The youth divided responsibilities among themselves: some built the nests, some selected suitable locations, and others engaged with local people and leaders to highlight the importance of bird and environmental conservation.
With the cooperation of community members and local representatives, they successfully installed 90 artificial bird nests in safe locations across Mathureshpur Union. They also organised awareness meetings to encourage people to protect trees and ensure safe habitats for birds. In the future, they plan to establish a bird-friendly sanctuary in the area.
This initiative has received widespread support from local people. Parents, elders, and community leaders praised the awareness and leadership of the children and youth.
One young participant said: "Before the training, we only noticed that the number of birds was decreasing, but we didn't know what we could do. Now we understand that even small initiatives can play a big role in protecting nature and our future."
Local leaders also stated that this initiative has inspired the community to think anew about environmental conservation and biodiversity protection.
This youth-led initiative proves that with the right skills and opportunities, children and young people can play a crucial role in tackling environmental challenges. Their collective effort is bringing new hope for restoring bird habitats and building a sustainable, safe environment in Mathureshpur Union.
