Most of the staple crops that nourish the world are grown in paddies—wetlands where biodiversity not only thrives but is vital to the health of the fields themselves.

How do birds sustain these ecosystems? Why are they so crucial to biodiversity in paddies? In this video, Thanal researcher Raju Sankaran from Kerala explains how birds act as the “eco‑managers” of the fields, maintaining balance and resilience in the paddy landscape.

You can read our article here: tinyurl.com/AvianDiversity. This article is part of PANAP’s biodiversity series promoting agroecology and biodiversity conservation as pathways toward resilient and sustainable food systems.