Mohammad Dilawar, an ecologist and ornithologist, has played a pivotal role in the conservation of house sparrows through his organisation Nature Forever Society. Initially focused on providing bird feeders and nest boxes, Dilawar’s efforts have now expanded to creating urban forests and thematic parks to tackle the underlying causes of sparrow decline.
India has been proactive in sparrow conservation for over a decade, largely thanks to Dilawar’s leadership. Born and raised in Nashik, Dilawar worked with the UK-based Royal Society for the Protection of Birds before returning to India and settling in Mumbai. In 2005, while researching the decline of vultures in India, Dilawar also observed a concerning drop in sparrow numbers. Determined not to let sparrows face the same fate as vultures, he launched a mass conservation movement.
Dilawar addressed sparrows’ primary needs which is food, nesting sites, and habitats. He began raising awareness about sparrows, initiating World Sparrow Day and advocating for the bird’s selection as Delhi’s state bird. Inspired by his experience in the UK, where bird feeders were commonplace, he launched campaigns for the adoption of nest boxes and bird feeders. This effort quickly gained momentum, with people across India joining the cause. Nature Forever Society distributed millions of bird feeders and thousands of nest boxes, helping sparrows return to urban areas.
Conservation of house sparrows |
Conservation of house sparrows |
Conservation of house sparrows |
In an interview with The Free Press Journal, Dilawar said, “We started working on sparrow conservation when people didn’t even consider this bird worth conserving. While we lost precious time saving vultures, we didn’t want to make the same mistake with sparrows. We began with basic knowledge and now focus on addressing the root causes of their decline.”
Conservation of house sparrows |
Conservation of house sparrows |
Conservation of house sparrows |
The second phase of the sparrow conservation project focuses on increasing native plant species, which are crucial for restoring ecosystems. Studies show that the decline in native vegetation has reduced insect populations, affecting sparrows’ ability to find food for their young ones. Dilawar has launched large-scale native plantation campaigns to revitalise these ecosystems and bring back vital insect, butterfly, and other fauna populations. He believes that restoring native plants will help regenerate habitats for many species.
This initiative has already introduced 550 native plant species, with plans to introduce more species. Dilawar is also advocating for the creation of urban forests and thematic gardens to promote ecological restoration. “There’s little data on how native plants can be utilized commercially, and not much literature on ecological restoration. But we are optimistic that native plants will become a nationwide movement,” he said.
Dilawar’s work is far from complete, and he believes there is still much to be done. Even after 20 years, he remains committed to the cause of ecological restoration and sparrow conservation, hoping to inspire lasting change in India’s environmental landscape.
