A research-driven conservation organisation has collaborated with local schools to start a seed collection drive to restore elephant habitats in Assam.
The initiative has been jointly organised by Aaranyak and local schools of the Udalguri and Baksa districts. The students will collect seeds of native species including Bel, Odal, Arjun and Thekera which will then be planted at the habitat restoration site.
The collection drive began on April 22 in Udalguri and Baksa districts with the participation of 60 students from Rajiv Gandhi Memorial High School, Sapangaon and 50 students from Saint Paul School, Bhairabkunda. A guided nature walk around the high school and a plantation drive with students from Saint Paul School provided them with an opportunity to learn about the natural environment.
The NGO has also started a nursery of its own at Badlapara in Udalguri where seeds of Atlas seeds will also be grown.
Conservation biologist Dr Alolika Sinha of Aaranyak said, “Based on field surveys and literature review, we gained insights on elephant fodder plants in the wild. Accordingly, we have been conducting seed collection drives seasonally engaging local communities and students from the villages to raise them in our nursery, and consequently plant the saplings at the habitat revival site in the appropriate season.”
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The purpose of the initiative is to raise awareness about biodiversity conservation among students and community members and contribute towards restoring the habitat of endangered elephants in Assam. The endangered Asian elephants are threatened by several factors including habitat loss, conflict with local communities and destruction of their habitat due to the extraction of minerals and other resources.
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