The call came from a seminar on 'The status of the globally threatened Spoon-billed Sandpiper' held at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.

WTB and Bangladesh Birds Club jointly organised the seminar to disclose the report of a survey carried out in the country on the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, an endangered species of migratory bird.

Some internationally acclaimed ornithologists from Russia, Germany, UK and Bangladesh conducted the survey from January 17 to 25 at three spots along the country's coastal belt to find out the reasons behind the sharp degradation of population of this species.

Bangladesh is the abode of some 700 species of birds, among which around 300 are migrants. Experts apprehend that some 50 species of birds in the country are now on the verge of extinction, facing a multitude of threats including human greed.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz was the chief guest at the seminar where ornithologist Prof Zaker Hussain and country representative of IUCN Bangladesh Dr Ainun Nishat were present as special guests.

WTB chairman Enayetullah Khan presided over the seminar addressed by Dr Christopher Zockler, leader of the survey team, Enamul Haque, national coordinator of waterfowl census in Bangladesh, and Prof Anwarul Islam, chief executive of WTB.

The surveyors, who found some 11 Spoon-billed Sandpipers in the three coastal spots, said it indicated the health condition of the coastal area.

"Visits of these birds indicate that the health of our ecosystems is still liveable," said Enayetullah Khan.

He termed habitat loss and fragmentation as the major threats that were causing degradation of birds' population across the globe.

Dr Christopher Zockler said the ecosystem of Bangladesh, which is still at a sustainable level for the birds, needs immediate conservation to keep the nature liveable for human in the long run as bird is one of the major components of the ecosystem.

He also pointed out some key objects to keep the country's ecological balance sustainable. These include protection of key sites like Sonadia and Bodur Mukam; halting of further coastal degradation; creation of a far-reaching national action plan to conserve the ecosystem and developing an understanding under the CMS.

Prof SMA Faiz said there is an urgent need for social and political awareness to save the nature from the damage being caused by vested quarters.