Officials along with the participants during the two-day workshop held at the Central Agricultural University, Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh on April 15.
Pasighat, April 16 (MExN): Community leaders and conservationists from across Arunachal Pradesh have initiated the formation of the first state-wide platform to unify community-led biodiversity protection efforts, marking a significant step in the state’s grassroots conservation movement.
The decision was taken at a two-day workshop held at the Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, where participants agreed to form the proposed Arunachal Pradesh State Community Led Conservation Forum. An interim working group has also been appointed to work out the modalities of the forum over the next few months.
The proposed body seeks to bring together Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) and other community-led conservation initiatives under a common platform for advocacy, policy engagement and knowledge-sharing at the state level.
Participants said the move would transform scattered local conservation efforts into a collective force capable of influencing biodiversity policy and strengthening environmental governance in the state.
Speaking on the opening day, Elopa Etugu Community Eco-Cultural Preserve (EECEP) founder Jibi Pulu emphasised the importance of a collective approach. He said the meeting had, for the first time, brought people together at the state level, indicating a positive shift in community engagement, and expressed hope for continued gatherings under the forum’s aegis.
Rishi Kumar Sharma, Head of the Himalayas Programme at WWF-India, said the initiative presents an opportunity for communities in Arunachal Pradesh to collaborate with similar forums across the region to promote community-led conservation.
During the meeting, members of the Elopa Etugu Community Eco-Cultural Preserve highlighted the use of camera traps to monitor wildlife, reporting around 41 species in the CCA, and stressed the importance of preserving both nature and culture. Discussions also covered research on ecology, flora and fauna, and community livelihoods for long-term conservation management.
Jambey Gyaltsen of the Thembang Bapu CCA spoke on the challenges of balancing conservation with economic needs. He highlighted measures such as camera trapping and low-cost electric fencing to reduce human-wildlife conflict. The discussion also touched on the impact of commercial agriculture and tourism, and the need to promote eco and community-based tourism alongside sustainable agriculture.
Chajo Lowang of Green Tirap said efforts are underway to raise awareness in New Tupi, with plans to expand outreach to neighbouring areas. He noted that while the initiative is new and faces challenges, there is optimism about community response and emphasised the role of local leaders in facilitating CCAs.
The 22-member interim working group has been given six months to draft the forum’s bylaws, governance structure and membership framework, to be presented for consideration and endorsement at the end of its tenure. Ranju Dodum and Dimum Pertin have been appointed as convenor and co-convenor, respectively.
An advisory panel embedded within the working group includes representatives from Kalpavriksh, WWF-India, ATREE, Nature Conservation Foundation and Green Hub, along with senior local conservation figures, to support the process.
Speaking to the media, Hranglung Lungalang, chairman of the Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum, urged Arunachal Pradesh to act before ecological degradation accelerates.
“Arunachal’s forest cover is vast, but people are not always aware that conservation is urgent. In Nagaland, we realised the need only after many areas were already depleted. By starting now, Arunachal can save what it has before it’s too late,” he said.
Participants stressed that conservation must be positioned as part of sustainable development rather than in opposition to it.
“When people hear the word conservation, they often think it means stopping development. That is not the objective. The goal is sustainable development—ensuring that infrastructure, livelihoods and ecological integrity progress together,” said interim convenor Dodum.
A digital portal documenting conservation areas, biodiversity records and project profiles is also planned as part of the initiative.
Initial support for the forum-building process will be provided by WWF-India, ATREE, Kalpavriksh and Green Hub, while Rajiv Gandhi University has offered to host future meetings of the interim working group and, subsequently, the forum.
Participants said the initiative could reshape biodiversity governance in the state by giving local conservation groups a unified voice in policy and environmental decision-making.
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