Leading biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, organised a week-long residential training programme titled “Capacity Building of Local Communities for Hoolock Gibbon Conservation” from 17–22 June last at the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, Assam. The programme was conducted in collaboration with the Assam Forest Department, particularly the Jorhat Forest Division, with support from The Habitats Trust, the IUCN Section on Small Apes and the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group.
The training programme aimed to equip local community members from gibbon habitats with the knowledge and skills required for effective conservation of the Hoolock Gibbon and its habitat.
The course covered a wide range of topics, including biodiversity conservation in Northeast India, primate conservation with special reference to the Hoolock gibbon, gibbon census and population estimation techniques, field data collection and reporting, floristic studies, habitat assessment and restoration, population and habitat monitoring, rescue and rehabilitation of gibbons, the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in fieldwork and wildlife and customary laws.
The programme was inaugurated on 17 June by Obed Bohovi Swu, Divisional Forest Officer, Zunheboto Forest Division, Nagaland. In his inaugural address, Mr. Swu welcomed the participants and encouraged them to make full use of the training for the conservation of Hoolock Gibbons and other wildlife species in their respective areas. He also appreciated Aaranyak for organizing such an important initiative.
Welcoming the participants, Dr. Dilip Chetry, Director and Head of Primate Research and Conservation Initiatives, Aaranyak, emphasised the importance of active participation and learning. He urged the trainees to utilise the opportunity to enhance their understanding of Hoolock Gibbon conservation and biodiversity conservation in general.
Twenty participants – 8 from Assam, 3 from Meghalaya and 9 from Nagaland took part in the training programme. As part of the learning process, participants were taken on exposure visits to Assam Agricultural University to learn about lac culture and edible insects and to the Rain Forest Research Institute for first-hand experience of multiple products, including furniture made from bamboo, often referred to as the “Green Gold” of Northeast India.
Resource persons included Dr. I.C. Baruah, former faculty of Assam Agricultural University; Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury of Wildlife Trust of India; Obed Bohovi Swu, Divisional Forest Officer, Zunheboto Forest Division, Nagaland; Gunin Saikia (Former Deputy Conservator of Forests); Hiranya Borah (Beat Officer, Mariani Forest Range); Dr. Kumud Ghosh, Assistant Professor, Nakachari College; Mridu Paban Phukan of Wildlife Conservation & Study Centre; and Aaranyak researchers Avishek Sarkar, Arif Hussain, Simanta Medhi and Dr. Dilip Chetry.
The convocation ceremony was held on 22 June under the chairmanship of Dr. Dilip Chetry. Addressing the participants, Dr. Chetry, who also serves as Vice Chair for South Asia of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group, encouraged the trainees to apply the knowledge and skills gained during the programme towards the conservation of biodiversity in their respective regions. He expressed his gratitude to the Assam Forest Department, particularly the Jorhat Forest Division and the local communities for their support throughout the programme. Jiten Goswami, retired forest official, was also present at the convocation ceremony.
Dr. Chetry highlighted that this was the first programme of its kind in India specifically designed to build the capacity of local communities for Hoolock Gibbon conservation. The training concluded with the distribution of study materials, including a training manual, books on Hoolock Gibbons, posters, stickers and certificates to all participants.
The Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), India’s only ape species, is found exclusively in the forests of Northeast India. Its distribution is restricted to the seven northeastern states located south of the Dibang-Brahmaputra river system. However, habitat fragmentation, encroachment and hunting continue to pose major threats to the survival of this endangered primate. Awareness about the species and its conservation needs also remains limited among local communities and even among many frontline forest personnel working in gibbon habitats.
Recognising these challenges, the training programme represents an important step toward strengthening community-based conservation efforts for the Western Hoolock Gibbon and promoting long-term biodiversity conservation across Northeast India.
