Guwahati, Sept 11: A crucial stakeholder consultation on the Regional Action Plan for Elephant Conservation in Northeast India was held on Friday at Kaziranga, bringing together top forest officials, conservation experts, researchers, and community representatives.
The session was convened in the presence of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) committee led by S B.S. Bonal, IFS former ADG (PT&NTCA). Senior Assam forest officials, including M.K. Yadava, (Retd.), Special Chief Secretary (EFCC), and Dr. Vinay Gupta, PCCF (CWLW), participated in the discussions.
The deliberations zeroed in on pressing challenges such as human-elephant conflict, habitat connectivity, and the vital role of community participation. Local voices, including Eco-Development Committees (EDCs), Village Defence Parties (VDPs), and community members, joined researchers and conservation practitioners to shape practical strategies.
Northeast India, home to 13 elephant reserves and numerous critical corridors, plays a pivotal role in the survival of wild Asian elephants. These reserves—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya—are linked through seasonal and long-distance migratory routes that ensure genetic diversity and reduce conflict.
The Regional Action Plan, developed under MoEFCC’s Project Elephant, sets ambitious objectives:
1.Protection of elephants and habitats through anti-poaching, law enforcement, and restoration of corridors.
2. Conflict mitigation with early-warning systems, rapid response units, and livelihood support for affected communities.
3. Combating poaching and illegal trade by disrupting ivory networks and strengthening intelligence systems.
4. Research and monitoring using surveys, veterinary surveillance, and geospatial technologies.
5. Captive elephant welfare through health care, rescue, and rehabilitation standards.
6. Inter-sectoral cooperation to integrate ecological, social, and economic perspectives in policy and planning.
Officials stressed that the action plan must remain rooted in local realities, backed by community involvement and continuous management evaluations. The consultation is expected to feed directly into shaping a robust, inclusive framework for elephant conservation across the Northeast.
“Effective elephant conservation in the region depends on protecting habitats and ensuring communities are equal partners in the process,” participants emphasised during the session.
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