Abstract Submitted

This post shares an abstract submitted some time ago and that did not get selected ~

Saiha in Mizoram lies within the biodiversity hotspot of northeast India. Some of the best rainforest of northeast India is found in southern Mizoram, covering parts of the districts of Lawngtlai and Saiha (Choudhury 2006). This contiguous forest, primarily community owned, also houses the Palak Lake an ‘Important Bird Area’ and the ‘Blue Mountain National Park’.

Primary threat to wildlife, in this landscape that they cohabit with community, is removal from their habitat. Hunting which is culturally sanctioned and widely practiced impacts wildlife in a negative fashion while select myths and beliefs that exist in the society further ex­acerbate pressure on wildlife.

Conservation education for a variety of stakeholders is pivotal to achieving wildlife conservation. To make education, worthwhile interesting and effective, it needs to be open yet focused; structured yet flexible; thematic yet spontaneous and directional yet participatory (Trivedi et al. 2006). Emphasis is laid in designing locale specific content that is sensitive to local cultural values and mores. Innovative tools such as film screenings (on laptop computers followed by interaction sessions in these remotely located villages bereft of electricity) and perception surveys (by participants) focusing on select species are undertaken. Regular interactions on wildlife augment sensitivity and awareness levels of community members on wildlife values and lay the crucial platform for ensuring their participation and raising their stakes.