Grassroots Conservation

After adjusting to my environment here in Bangladesh, I’ve had the chance to meet with colleagues at Jahangirnagar University where we discussed waterfowl species and patterns of migration, allowing me to plan a productive field season. Our successful meeting resulted in the possibility of involving JU students in my work.

My next appointment was with the Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh (WTB). I gave a short presentation to the membership – a notably excited and lively audience. Other speakers discussed recent Mt. Everest excursions and whitewater rafting adventures – clearly this was an energetic group of people with a strong love for nature. Most importantly, I learned that the organization participates in an Asian water bird census every year, and I became privy to the details of the survey – information that would help me target the best field sites to conduct my research.

The survey outlined bird species from various lakes all throughout Bangladesh and much of Southeast Asia for that matter. After scanning the information, I felt reassured in my assumption that the northern lakes had the most diverse selection of waterfowl and were the best locations to test for disease. Situations like these that allow for open dialogue and collaboration create a win-win situation for conservation organizations working at the grassroots level. That’s really one of the unique characteristics of EcoHealth Alliance that attracted me to the organization. We engage with local conservation leaders to gain insight and formulate long-term goals that are beneficial to the community and ecosystem.

Reporting from Bangladesh, EcoHealth Alliance scientist Kurt Vandegrift is working toward monitoring highly pathogenic Avian influenza in wild migratory waterfowl.