Representatives from various NGOs in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have underscored the critical need for sensitisation and awareness programs for grassroots communities near the D’Ering Wildlife Sanctuary (Arunachal Pradesh) and the Pabo Reserve Forest (Assam) to prevent wildlife crimes.
The pioneering inter-state NGO coordination meeting took place in Jonai on June 8, with the objective of collaboratively addressing wildlife crime along the Arunachal Pradesh-Assam border.
A total of 22 dedicated individuals from non-governmental organizations, including Aaranyak, Save Pabo Rainforest (SPRF), Jonai, and the Community Surveillance and Monitoring Team (CSMT), Pasighat, attended the meeting.
Participants unanimously agreed that educating local communities is crucial to preventing wildlife crimes such as poaching and illegal trade. Aaranyak officials Dr. Jimmy Borah and Ivy Farheen Hussain, along with SPRF’s secretary Royal Pegu and president Rajib Pegu, as well as CSMT leader from Pasighat, Maksam Tayeng, and his team, deliberated on various strategies to combat wildlife crime in the area.
The meeting concluded with a decision to launch two awareness campaigns—one on the Assam side and the other on the Arunachal side of the inter-state boundary. These campaigns aim to inform and engage local communities about the importance of wildlife conservation and the harmful impacts of illegal activities on the ecosystem.
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Additionally, a comprehensive social survey will be conducted to assess the economic status of communities living near these critical wildlife habitats. The insights gained from this survey will aid in developing alternative livelihood programs, reducing reliance on activities that harm wildlife.
A key outcome of the meeting was the proposed collaboration between CSMT and the Village Defence Parties (VDP). This partnership aims to enhance monitoring and control measures to curb illegal wildlife trade in the region.
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