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BSF troopers sensitised on human-elephant co-existence, wildlife crime along India-Bangladesh border
BSF troopers sensitised on human-elephant co-existence, wildlife crime along India-Bangladesh border

United News of India

time05-07-2025

  • United News of India

BSF troopers sensitised on human-elephant co-existence, wildlife crime along India-Bangladesh border

Shillong, July 5 (UNI) Troopers of the Border Security Force (BSF), guarding the India-Bangladesh border under Meghalaya frontier, were sensitised on the human-elephant coexistence and wildlife crime. The Meghalaya Forest Department along with Aaranyak, a premier biodiversity conservation and research organisation in the North Eastern states, conducted a crucial outreach programme yesterday for troopers of the 193rd BSF Battalion stationed at the Ranikor, Gumaghat Border Outpost in Meghalaya's South-West Khasi Hills district. Thirty-three BSF officers, led by Inspector Shravan Kumar of the 193rd Battalion, took part in the sessions to enhance awareness of wildlife encounters and trafficking among border troops. The primary objective of the programme was to train BSF troopers in safely navigating interactions with wild elephant herds—frequent visitors to the border zone—and raise awareness of wildlife crime trends and anti-trafficking strategies. Specialists from Aaranyak's Elephant Research and Conservation Division (ERCD) led sessions on animal behaviour and forest-smart tactics. Dr Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar and Abhijit Baruah instructed officers on deciphering Asian elephant behaviour to preempt conflict and ensure safer border operations. Addressing the concern on wildlife crime and illegal trade along border areas, Aaranyak's Legal & Advocacy Division, Dr Jimmy Borah underscored evolving routes used by poachers, enforcement hurdles, and practical frontline prevention tactics. Forest Range Officer Sankupar Kharsyntiew of Nongstoin Wildlife Range in Meghalaya announced plans for joint strategies—including coordinated patrols—to better protect both the BSF troopers and wildlife. The programme's arrangements were overseen by Joseph Sawkmie, Beat Officer at Mawkyrwat Wildlife Beat. 'This unique collaboration marks an evolving approach: arming frontline forces not just for national security, but also to address the pressing conservation challenges posed by wildlife mobility and illegal trafficking in border regions,' the Meghalaya Forest official said. UNI RRK ARN

Community-run irrigation canals revived in Assam
Community-run irrigation canals revived in Assam

The Hindu

time17-06-2025

  • General
  • The Hindu

Community-run irrigation canals revived in Assam

Dong, an age-old water distribution system of the indigenous Bodo community living along the border with Bhutan, has been revived in north-central Assam's Udalguri district. The Bhawani Dong in Uttor Garuajhar village and the Orang Dong in the No. 2 Sonajuli village, both in the district's Bhergaon Block, were rejuvenated recently under a programme to restore traditional water management systems and strengthen rural resilience. A dong is a community-managed water channel. It diverts water from rivers through earthen canals to irrigate agricultural land and fill ponds for household and farming needs. The dong system is especially followed near the India-Bhutan border, where water scarcity during the dry season — January to March — is a recurring challenge. However, these systems have been rendered non-functional due to neglect, sedimentation, and climate-related changes over the years. Aaranyak, a biodiversity conservation organisation, engaged with the communities to help rejuvenate the dongs. The Bhawani Dong caters to No. 1 Garuajhar, Orangajuli, and Uttor Garuajhar. It serves about 1,500 households and a population exceeding 10,000. The canal's water flow reduced drastically during the dry months over the years, leaving farmlands parched and downstream villages such as Kachari Basti, Gaonburha Basti, and Jhara Basti with little or no access to water. The situation contributed to reduced agricultural output and growing hardship. Following its restoration, the Bhawani Dong now delivers a consistent flow of water, enabling timely irrigation, reactivating abandoned agricultural land, and improving water availability even in previously neglected downstream areas. The Orang Dong in the No. 2 Sonajuli village, with around 120 households and a population of over 650, is the primary source of irrigation for nearly 500 bighas of farmland. Its revival has helped the villagers resume cultivation activities, assured of reduced risk of crop failure. 'Community involvement at every stage, from identifying repair needs to contributing labour for clearing blockages and maintaining flow paths, marked the effort to restore both these dongs,' Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, Aaranyak's deputy executive director, said.

Aaranyak undertakes massive plantation drive to mitigate human-elephant conflict in Assam
Aaranyak undertakes massive plantation drive to mitigate human-elephant conflict in Assam

India Gazette

time25-05-2025

  • General
  • India Gazette

Aaranyak undertakes massive plantation drive to mitigate human-elephant conflict in Assam

Guwahati (Assam) [India], May 25 (ANI): Aaranyak is undertaking a large-scale plantation drive in Assam to address human-elephant conflict by restoring degraded habitats and providing elephants with natural food sources. The goal is to replenish 100 hectares of degraded forest by planting one lakh saplings of native species, improving ecological connectivity for wildlife, particularly elephants, and mitigating human-elephant conflict (HEC). Aaranyak is supported by the SBI Foundation and is a part of the Dhansiri-Sikaridanga Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) is undertaking a massive plantation drive in the Bhairabkunda Reserve Forest along the Indo-Bhutan border in Assam's Udalguri district. The plantation drive, now in its third year, has seen the participation of forest officials, FXB India Suraksha, the Bhairabkunda Development Committee, and the Dhansiri-Sikaridanga Joint Forest Management Committee. On the first day of the third-year plantation drive, 510 saplings of 11 native species were planted, including Outenga, Bel, Kola Siris, Gamari, Bhatgila, Amla, Jamun, Bhomora, Xilikha, Bhelkor, Kum, Odal, and Tora. The objective of the plantation drive is to promote human-elephant coexistence by securing elephant habitats, facilitating elephant movement, and sustaining the watershed for the region. Habitat replenishment can have a lasting impact in favor of mitigating HEC, providing a long-term solution to reduce conflicts between humans and elephants. 'The Aaranyak team is striving for habitat improvement and restoring degraded areas under the project to secure elephant habitat, facilitate elephant movement for long-term mitigation of human-elephant confrontation, and sustain the watershed for the region,' said Dr Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, a senior conservation scientist in Aaranyak. 'Raging HEC undermines efforts for conservation of elephants and their habitat, besides affecting the well-being of people. The complex issue of HEC mitigation requires a multi-pronged and multi-stakeholders approach as has been adopted by research-driven Aaranyak,' said Dr Alolika Sinha, a senior conservation biologist in Aaranyak. (ANI)

Planting for elephants: Green step in degraded Assam forest on Bhutan border
Planting for elephants: Green step in degraded Assam forest on Bhutan border

The Hindu

time24-05-2025

  • General
  • The Hindu

Planting for elephants: Green step in degraded Assam forest on Bhutan border

GUWAHATI After a year, a mission to re-green a 100-hectare degraded Assam forest on the border with Bhutan to mitigate human-elephant conflicts has resumed. Members of Aaranyak, a biodiversity conservation group, and the Dhansiri-Sikaridanga Joint Forest Management Committee in north-central Assam's Udalguri district, planted 510 saplings of 11 native species. These saplings – and scores of others planted earlier – are envisaged to provide food and shelter for the elephants in the future. The mission focuses on replenishing 100 hectares of a degraded patch in the district's Bhairabkunda Reserve Forest, administered by the Dhansiri Forest Division. The drive started on May 14. 'The key native plant species being planted during the drive this year include outenga, bel, kola siris, gamari, bhatgila, amla, jamun, bhomora, xilikha, bhelkor, kum, odal, and tora, as they are called in local parlance. We aim to plant 1 lakh saplings during this summer,' Aaranyak's Rabiya Daimari said. Habitat replenishment can have a lasting impact in resolving human-elephant conflicts as it provides a long-term solution to promote coexistence between wild elephants and people. Aaranyak initiated this ambitious project two years ago with support from the SBI Foundation. 'The Aaranyak team is striving for habitat improvement and restoring degraded areas under the project to secure elephant habitat, facilitate elephant movement for long-term mitigation of human-elephant confrontation, and sustain the watershed for the region,' Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, a senior conservation scientist at Aaranyak, said. The area targeted for replenishment is a mosaic of grasslands and woodlands, with different soil substrata ranging from sandy coarse to rocky and swampy areas. Illegal logging and encroachment of elephant corridors in the vicinity are some of the factors that affected the forest patch strategic for elephants. Aaranyak has been engaged in empowering local communities and securing habitats to promote human-elephant coexistence. As a wide-ranging species, the Asian elephant needs expansive resources for its survival and often comes into conflict with humans through crop and property damage, deaths and injuries, and retaliatory killing of the pachyderms. 'Raging human-elephant conflict undermines efforts for conservation of elephants and their habitat, besides affecting the well-being of people. The complex issue of mitigating such conflicts requires a multi-pronged and multi-stakeholder approach,' Alolika Sinha, a senior conservation biologist at Aaranyak, said.

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