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Villagers Turn Forest into Wildlife Living Record
25 Sep
Summary
- Community forest in Arunachal Pradesh is now a wildlife record.
- Camera traps help villagers monitor species non-intrusively.
- Local knowledge combines with technology for forest stewardship.
In the Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh, a unique conservation effort is underway where villagers are transforming a community forest into a living record of its wildlife. Spearheaded by the Hinthong Foundation, this initiative utilizes camera traps for non-intrusive wildlife monitoring in the New Tupi village community forest.
Conservationists Chajo Lowang and Sara Khongsai, co-founders of the foundation, are leading this project, which has involved local communities in ecological conservation for the past five years. The recent installation of camera traps saw the active participation of 15 to 20 residents, including village leaders and elders, alongside former deputy commissioner Techu Aran.
This innovative approach combines scientific monitoring with traditional ecological knowledge. Field biologists and local residents have already reported signs of wildlife, including footprints of wild boar and barking deer, a Himalayan black bear's claw marks, a pangolin burrow, and the calls of the endangered hoolock gibbon. The Nature Conservation Foundation provided the essential camera trap equipment.
The Hinthong Foundation's goal is to place conservation technology directly into the hands of local villagers. This strategy aims to build robust community stewardship, ensuring the long-term protection and understanding of Tirap's vital forest ecosystems.
