New Delhi: The annual Dragonfly census will begin on Friday throughout Delhi-NCR.
The fourth edition of the Festival, launched by WWF India, will continue until 2022 February and aims to spread the awareness of the importance of winging beings to the overall ecosystem.
Every year, Dragonfly Festival recording species seen in NCR, the possibility of hotspots and ideal breeding places.
Experts say dragonfly are indicators of healthy ecosystems and as predators and prey, playing an important role in maintaining balance in the environment and in controlling insect populations.
The festival is being carried out in partnership with Bombay Natural History of Society (BNHS), UN Environment Program, Indian Zoological Survey, Hat of South Asia Society, Indian Dragonfly Society, Community for Odonate Studies, Portal Biodiversity of MIT-WPU and Portal of Indian Biodiversity Portal.
An official said that the event would also see the participation of adults and children, with a number of fun activities that would see involvement of several schools.
Since the First Dragonfly Festival was launched in 2018, nearly 10,000 people have so far been involved through field visits, the number of on-ground, online workshops, digital resources and photographic competitions with festivals.
This year, this festival will involve people in 10 Indian countries who boast a diverse dragonfly population.
“The success of the last three editions has encouraged us to illuminate Spotlight Dragonflies”, said Radhika Suri, Director, Education, WWF India.
“Children at a younger age must understand the big role of playing small species – only when they observe and connect with nature, can we really see positive effects on the planet.” The audience will be encouraged to upload their observations in the Inaturalist application and Indian biodiversity portal during the festival.
Small children will also be able to use seekapp to find dragonflies around them.
“Public participation in scientific research and citizen scientists is very important because it helps in increasing the capacity of the scientific community, and increasing the public understanding of science,” said Sohail Madan, BNHS.