In an ongoing effort to address human-elephant conflict (HEC) in Assam, biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, in collaboration with the state Forest Department, has handed over seasonal solar fences to local communities in Jorhat, Tinsukia and Sivasagar districts.
The community-managed fences are designed to protect farmlands from elephant raids while encouraging coexistence between people and wildlife. The handover events, held from October 8 to 10, brought together members of Village Fencing Committees (VFCs), Assam Forest Department officials, Gaon Pradhans, and community representatives from the three districts. Around 160 people attended the meetings.
In Tinsukia district, a 6 km solar fence was handed over to VFCs from Balijan Nagaon, Padumfula, and 1 No. Basagaon villages during a meeting at Padumfula Community Hall on October 8. The following day, communities in Sivasagar’s Demowmukh area received nearly 18 km of fencing to protect agricultural lands in Majumelia, Charagua Grant, Demowmukh Mising Gaon and Demowmukh Gohain Gaon. The final handover took place on October 10 at Bezorchiga in Jorhat district, where about 30 km of fencing was provided to the villages of Hatishal, Bezorchiga, Sagunpara, Major Chapori, Sumoni Sapori and Chutalbagh.
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The fences have been installed along areas vulnerable to crop damage and will be maintained by local VFCs to ensure long-term sustainability. Aaranyak said the initiative aims not only to minimise crop loss but also to strengthen local participation in wildlife conservation.
The activities were coordinated by Aaranyak’s field team, including Anjan Baruah, Zakir Islam Bora, Rubul Tanti, Niranjan Bhuyan, Tibrajyoti Gogoi, Deep Jyoti Gogoi, Debojit Gogoi, Tonmoy Gogoi, Ananta Dutta, Lakhinath Taid, Chiranjeev Kalita and Jiaur Rehmaan.
Aaranyak has been working across Assam to promote community-based conservation, with solar fencing recognised as one of the most effective non-lethal measures to mitigate conflict between humans and elephants.
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