Posted on September, 24 2001
As part of the day's activities, WWF organised a bird-watch to sensitise inhabitants of Ghizo Island, the bird's habitat, about the Ghizo White-eye, a tiny, beautiful bird only found on Ghizo Island in the world. WWF Solomon Islands estimates that only about 1,000 of these birds now remain. The bird's natural habitat is thick woodland vegetation now threatened by clearance for timber, firewood and farming.
The International Threatened Species Day is marked on 7 September annually to highlight the plight of the world's threatened species and ecological communities. WWF's activities on Solomon Islands during this year's activities sought to raise awareness of threatened species and to encourage people to get involved in local projects to protect them. "We encouraged everyone to get involved and to participate in activities during the week. We involved youth and children in a bird count in which at least eight birds were sighted," said Seri Hite, Country Programme Manager for WWF Solomon Islands.
Though much work is being done to help save threatened species and ecological communities, more community support is needed in the Solomon Islands, hence the need to raise awareness. Besides sensitisation, WWF Solomon Islands this year urged people to clean-up the areas around their houses, gardens and sea fronts of plastics and litter. Citizens were also urged to plant trees and to try and learn more about the endangered birds in their midst. WWF also urged organisations and individuals to support projects that aim to reduce the threats to species and ecological systems under threat by supporting habitat restoration, weeding, feral animal control, and population survey and monitoring.
Part of the activities organised by WWF included a guided Nature 'Wokabaot' for those interested to learn about the Ghizo White-eye. The tour was led by Bruno Manele, a WWF staff member who has led Nature 'Wokabaot' tours on Ghizo Island previously. "The Ghizo White-eye is a cute little bird," says Manele. "It is not easy to see; it is quite rare. You have to know where to find it. And you have to know the time that it comes out of the bush."
For further information:
Vicki Kalgovas: Tel: + 677 60191, email: wwf@solomon.com.sb