Аshgabat, 5 April 2010. The Hazar State reserve held event devoted to the international bird day widely celebrated on 1st of April by ornithologists across the world. The event was held at the museum of the Hazar state reserve for schoolchildren of four schools of Turkmenbashi city with the help of the UN Development Program’ project «Соnservation and sustainable use of globally significant biological diversity in Hazar State Reserve on the Caspian Sea Coast» jointly implemented with Global Environmental Facility and the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan.

The objective of the event was to increase awareness on environment protection among schoolchildren, broadening their mind and attracting their attention to the birds of the Caspian region.

In the course of the information part, participants were shown a movie on Ramsar Convention, which Turkmenistan joined in 2008, telling about the territories of the reserve enlisted as wetlands of global significance and an important habitat for birds of the region.

The program of the event included contest for best picture and quiz for expert on birds inhabiting Hazar region. The main criteria for the best picture were to draw it from the stuffed bird which participant could select at the museum. Jury of the contest consisting of scientific officers of the reserve and expert-ornithologist were assessing pictures on this criterion, though the creative approach to the assignment was also considered. Best expert on birds were identified on the number of correct answers.

The winner of the drawing contest became Chaytyev Kuwwat, 7th grade, school student, school №13, Turkmenbashi city, who also won the quiz on the best expert on birds of the region. Apart from, the main prize-winning places, 8 participants received encouragement prizes for the quality of the drawn pictures.

All the participants of the event received information materials about the Hazar project and biodiversity of the Hazar reserve.

The similar events devoted to the international bird day were held in all four pilot settlements of the project – Gyzylsuw, Chekichler, Belek and Garagel.

By holding such events the Hazar project facilitates formation of environmental culture of schoolchildren, promotion of environmental education and care treatment of nature. Birds are the most notable and attractive objects for people in nature as well as one of the most important elements of ecosystem well-being. Facilitating conservation of bird habitat, a man conserves environment as a whole.