Lobito - The Centre for Information, Observation and Monitoring on Birds (CIOMA), located in Lobito City, coastal Benguela Province, aims to provide the opportunity for residents and tourists to obtain credible and timely information about the wetlands and species that live there, ANGOP has learned.
According to its manager, Madaleno Constantino, the only center of its kind in the country so far has a team of experts who are able to provide detailed information about the fauna and flora in the city's mangroves.
It has participatory management and any entity or institution can have access to information related to those ecosystems.
The CIOMA official informed that remote observation instruments are available, namely binoculars with a very high resolution capacity, as well as a telescope.
"We have deployed a permanent team of three members who work voluntarily, four days a week", he clarified.
He said it is in an experimental phase and he wants people to know and be interested in the environment, mainly aquatic and migratory birds.
Madaleno Constantino added that the Center has international connections and has been certified since October 10, 2023, by Wetland Link Internacional, an organization that brings together the main wetland centers around the world.
"There are more than 200 centers that are part of this Association and we are full members", he revealed.
In terms of actions, he stated that CIOMA has been in contact with its Portuguese counterpart, Espaço de Verificação e Observação de Aves (EVOA), with which it has had joint activities, remotely, at a distance, through IT.
"On Friday, we will bring together a group of street children to get them interested and friendly to the environment and give them the opportunity to get to know the birds that live in the mangroves," he said.
Madaleno Constantino also challenged government officials, academics, scientists, especially tourists, to stop being confined to hotels and visit the area to make it a place of reference.
He left recommendations for residents to protect the Lobito lagoons, namely the prohibition of throwing rubbish, fishing, hunting birds and setting traps, and must conserve them.
TC/CRB/CF/jmc
