Assessment of farmers' knowledge and perceptions towards farmland birds show the need of conservation interventions

• DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01563
• Publication Date: 2021-03-28T15:23:44Z
• Authors: Hem Bahadur Katuwal; Mingxia Zhang; Hem Sagar Baral; Hari Prasad Sharma; Rui-Chang Quan
• Keywords: Bird conservation; Outreach

Farmland birds are facing a gradual decline in their population globally due to various anthropogenic threats. Understanding farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and perception towards the conservation of farmland is crucial understand distribution threats, as farmers often come across year-round. We interviewed 743 four districts (Kapilvastu, Chitwan, Sarlahi, Sunsari) lowland Nepal. The majority were male (72%), formally educated (66%), 16–78 years old. Around 62% reported having seen at least one 15 that we showed them interview, which 57% recognized correctly. Farmers from protected areas identified more than those non-protected areas. However, study revealed poor understanding birds' names species level, nesting, status, ecosystem services provided, bird hunting an illegal practice. (63%) liked all birds, mainly for beautiful appearance sounds. Bird identification ability was correlated with abundance influenced by respondent's gender knowledge on ecological importance. Most perceived trade, pesticides, lack nesting trees farmlands. baseline data this can be used policymakers develop site-specific action plans birds. emphasize pressing need interventions government organizations increase ecology importance ecosystems through community outreach programs school curriculum conservation.