Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr. Mohit Gera, today inaugurated a one month certificate course on “Bird Identification and Basic Ornithology Certificate Course” being conducted by Wildlife Protection Department in collaboration with Department of Environment, Ecology and Remote Sensing.Twenty participants selected through open screening process were admitted to the month long certificate course as bird guide under Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) sponsored Green Skilled Development Programme.During the course, participants would be exposed to the basic of Ornithology and Bird Identification through a structured programme which will begin every morning at 7:00 am in the form of field visit to the varied bird habitats in and around Jammu.The participants will also be imparted knowledge on the important aspects of the basic Ornithology such as morphology, habitats, diversity, conservation status and ecological importance of birds besides basic hands on training on basic tools and equipments used by the bird watchers.The overall objective of the certificate course is to train the participants into an bird guide who can identify the birds of Jammu Region and realise their contribution to the eco system while appreciating the bio diversity richness of the Jammu Region. In long run, the participants could evolve themselves into a professional ornithologist and play a major role in awareness and conservation of Wildlife including birds which are in way indicators of environmental health.It is pertinent mention here that the participants drawn from all over the UT including the districts of Kargil, Kishtwar, Jammu, Kathua etc. thereby representing the diverse landscape and ecosystem of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Wildlife Protection Department has roped in experts in the field of Ornithology from various institutes such as O.P Sharma, IFS (Retd); Prof. K K Sharma former VC of Maharishi Dayanand Sarswati University, Dr.Vipin and Dr.Vinita Sharma of Department of Zoology, Central University Jammu; Dr.Pankaj Chandan of WWF and Dr.Neeraj Sharma of Jammu University.During the inauguration, Dr. Gera highlighted the importance of involvement of community and participatory approach to species conservation including birds and emphasised that UT of J&K is fortunate to have more than 48% of total geographical area under forest and tree cover and 11.8 % of total geographical area under protected area network. Further, he highlighted the livelihood potential of such courses especially for those who can take it as serious profession by developing a passion for such activities.The opening ceremony among others was attended by J. Frankoi, APCCF Eco-tourism, Dr. Kumar M K, IFS Regional Wildlife Warden Jammu, Wildlife Wardens of various divisions of Jammu Region, staff etc.