Six students from Mapala Silvagama, a nature enthusiasts’ group at UGM's Faculty of Forestry, participated in the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) 2017. The event lasted from 3-6 January 2017 in Segara Anakan, a lagoon bordering Nusakambangan island and Cilacap Regency in Central Java.
The students were Arifatul Lutfa, Agus Kusmawanto, Adita Fauzan, Ardelia Via Arthavia, Elna Novitasari br Ginting, and Galih Wahyu Setya A.
Arifatul Lutfa said the Asian Waterbird Census in Indonesia started in 1986. This year 160 participants joined the ACW, including academics, bird watchers, activists, and government officials.
Arifatul Lutfa said the AWC is an annual event to monitor waterbirds that is coodinated by Wetlands International in cooperation with the Ministry of Forestry and Environment. It is a means of helping to sustain the life of waterbirds and wetlands as their habitat.
“The data from the AWC serve as a reference for the management of wetlands, determination of global waterbird population, and the status of species that are protected,” said Arifatul Lutfa.
Data profiling can be used to preserve the waterbirds. The data can be accessed openly and used by all for conservation projects.
“At AWC 2017, we learned about many experiences related to waterbird conservation,” she said at the event.