Country’s one of the premier research-based biodiversity conservation organisation, Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org) has been working in tandem with all concerned stakeholders for securing the biodiversity and peoples wellbeing in the landscapes it has been working.
Aaranyaks efforts have been focused on complementing the sustained efforts of concerned government departments/agencies as well as taking into confidence the most important stakeholders, the common people whose cooperation is instrumental in the success of any conservation efforts. To depict the relationship between people and the ecosystem that they live in, a film was made- (Manas and People) in joint collaboration.
During the 68th National Film Awards ceremony, the film bagged the prestigious award administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals, Government of India as the best non-feature film under “Best Environment Film”. This film was screened today at the Guwahati Press Club by Aaranyak, followed by showcase of Aaranyaks conservation efforts undertaken in the last one year. The film tells the story about the ecosystem people who inhabits the fringe of Manas National Park- a Natural World Heritage Site. It portrays the way of life of the indigenous Bodo community, and other communities as well, and their association with the natural landscape. It reflects the bioculturalism of indigenous communities and their struggle to maintain cultural ethos and earn livelihood. This has been a multi-agency collaborative programme involving the Forest Department (BTC), Park management, Wildlife Conservation Trust and Panthera, and supported by the Integrated Tiger and Habitat Conservation Programme, a joint initiative of the IUCN-KfW.
This was followed by a felicitation to the films director- Mr. Dip Bhuyan, and Jayanta Kumar Sarma- films Associate Director.
Alolika Sinha, Aaranyaks Publicity Secretary spoke about the conservation efforts of Aaranyak. One of the sectors we have been working is to aid conservation of various Endangered species through our research-based efforts. Using novel and cutting-edge technologies and traditional methods, we are monitoring animal populations and their habitat.
To monitor large carnivores, their prey and habitat we have been using camera-trap and line transect methods in Manas and Raimona National Parks, and Dima Hasao district of Assam. Existence of Tiger was confirmed in Raimona for the first time through photo-capture of individuals.
To advance knowledge on prey-predator we are using Random Encounter Modelling approach, while undertaking grid-based occupancy sampling to understand the distribution and habitat use of Asian elephants in Meghalaya.
Our research has reported new locality record for a frog species, Microhyla eos from Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh, and also confirmed the presence of a Critically Endangered species such as the Asian Brown Tortoise (Manouria emys) in the Kohora river basin of Assam close to Kaziranga National Park.
Using genetic tools, we are generating genetic profiles of greater one-horned rhino individuals (DNA fingerprints) from dung, which aids in monitoring of the rhino population. Additionally, we aspire to understand the wild pedigree between individuals of the rhino population. Moreover, a landscape level genetic assessment of Asian elephants in northeast India, to identify various source populations and distribution of genetic diversity is underway.
Conserving the Rarest Suid-Pygmy Hog
In an effort to conserve the rarest suids- pygmy hog, 14 pygmy hogs were released in Manas National Park in 2022 to boost the existing wild hog population. These hogs are regularly monitored by coupling methods like camera-traps, sign-survey and radio telemetry. As a part of conservation breeding, around 70 hogs are maintained in two of the centers in Guwahati and Patasali.
To secure the hogs habitat we are working towards revival of habitat in both, Manas and Orang National Parks by managing IAPs, and native woody plants. We have been conducting ecological research on habitat as well to aid in informed conservation management.
Community Mobilisation to safeguard the Storks
Aaranyak aspires to empower the local community in general, and women in particular as part of conservation efforts. One of the highlights of such efforts is of protecting storks (Greater Adjutant Storks) by empowering women in the local community. An all women group- Hargila Army is working on ground by protecting GAS nests in Kamrup district, rehabilitating injured birds, and weaving merchandise to raise awareness, and supplement their livelihoods.
This multi-pronged approach has seen huge success that led to incredible increase in number of the stork nests in Dadara-Singimari-Pachariya breeding colony of Assam to 250. Dr. Purnima Devi Barman, who leads this conservation initiative have received several awards including UNEP- Champions of the Earth, 2022.
Promoting Human Elephant Coexistence is one of primary efforts of Aaranyak
Aaranyaks approach to mitigate human-elephant conflict include working cohesively with local communities, and other stakeholders primarily in Goalpara, Udalguri-Baksa-Tamulpur, Eastern Assam, and Garo hills of Meghalaya. We strive to enable coexistence through habitat restoration, research, conservation education, supplementing livelihood, capacity building and supporting the local communities with mitigation tools.
Over the years, we have supported the local communities with more than 80 km of solar-powered fence, 400 torch lights and 150 solar streetlights, encouraged cultivation of alternative crops that are less attractive to elephants, and restored habitats.
Our outreach programmes have a key objective to engender conservation-sensitive behavior.
A flagship conservation awareness initiative for school students include Rhino Goes to School (RGTS), and Nature Orientation Initiative (NOI). As part of RGTS, we organized 30 awareness campaigns in the last year around rhino-bearing areas of Assam and reached out to 4000 school students.
The NOI programme revolves around a nature camp for fringe-area students of Rhino-bearing areas and 35 students were trained last year, in addition to another 27 students trained around Orang National Park. While the Rewilding Kids programme is an environment education programme designed for the kids through fun-learning exercises.
Amar Bagisa is one of our outreach series designed for students to understand biological science through practices of gardening, and this year, 64 students were engaged.
EcoNE (www.econe.in ) is an online magazine, designed to provide a digital platform to air the issues, concerns, and environment conservation actions. A total of 23 articles were published in form of popular articles, photo and video stories, multimedia stories, talks and interviews, and infographics.
Besides, to raise awareness and wider reach on subjects such as ecosystem restoration, combating wildlife crime, science and technology for sustainable future, snakebite management, we used radio as media, and nearly one lakh people were reached through this. A few of our successful conservation efforts such as- establishing connectivity between Gibbon habitats (https://youtu.be/ePJg6GDzAk0), reviving grassland habitats (https://youtu.be/LuzoEyfkYfI), pygmy hog reintroduction (https://youtu.be/xsL-Z6nz7Wk) were documented as well.
Complementing Efforts
Aaranyak has always been on the forefront in complementing efforts of concerned government agencies with expertise. For instance, Aaranyak team assisted in reverification and disposal of wildlife trophies in government repositories in Assam as genetic expert in collecting samples from more than 2500 rhinos. We provided support to the Forest Department in forensic DNA analysis of suspected cases of poaching, confiscated wildlife parts across NE-India and West Bengal. We assisted Cachar Forest Division, and performed parentage analysis of captive Asian elephant (mother-calf pair).
Capacity building to aid conservation
Journey for Learning is one of our community-based eco-cultural tourism models, and capacity building exercise for university students and researchers. Workshops to capacitate students, research scholars and enthusiasts are organized regularly on remote sensing and GIS, GPS handling, legal orientation, habitat management etc.
Besides, attempts to develop skills, capacity building trainings for farmers and women-led SHG, EDC members are held on organic farming, use of vermicompost, mushroom cultivation, weaving and tailoring, using natural dye, and piggery. To facilitate this, a community tailoring center for skill development of women in Kohora River Basin was set-up.
Reducing wildlife crime through sensitisation and creation of synergy among agencies
Twenty-four sensitization workshops were conducted for Forest Department, border agencies like Sashatra Seema Bal and Border Security Force, transport agencies like Airport and Railway Security last year to help curb wildlife crime.
In addition, eighteen (18) awareness programme for educational institutes and local communities, and eight events for the Session Judges, Chief Judicial Magistrate and transboundary agencies (Bhutan), media agencies were conducted.
A novel approach to support the concerned agencies in checking and cracking wildlife crime cases through deployment of our K9 sniffer dog unit, has yielded substantial results, with over 60 wildlife crime cases cracked.
To put an end to wildlife trafficking and illegal trade routes of endangered and rare species, an initiative, abbreviated as D.E.T.E.R.S. (Disrupt and End Trade of Endangered and Rare Species) is underway.
Addressing the water-climate-hazard nexus
Dying rivers of Assam: A study on degradation of selected rivers and riverine ecosystems in the Brahmaputra Valley for developing a communitybased action plan for their rejuvenation was initiated. Case studies on urban water security in Guwahati city is underway. To develop media climate literacy and climate fact checking to address climate misinformation in media, we are working with a group of journalists, in collaboration with Fact Crescendo.
A citizen-based intervention on Rivers and Wetlands of Guwahati City: Towards an integrated action plan for rejuvenation, conservation, and sustainable urban development was initiated as well. For the outstanding, Dr. Partha J Das, Head, Water Climate and Hazard Division, Aaranyak received the Distinguished Humphrey Fellowship on Climate Change from the Department of State, Government of USA.
