Leipzig City (Germany): Wildlife conservationist from Assam Dr. Purnima Devi Barman has flagged the importance of integrating biodiversity conservation efforts with the local community’s cultural practices to facilitate coexistence between bio species and the human populace before a distinguished audience of conservation scientists and environment educators in Germany.
Delivering three back-to-back lectures before a huge gathering of conservationists, scientists, zoo directors, and curators from across Europe and beyond at the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA), Dr. Barman passionately discussed how Assam’s cultural traditions are deeply connected to its rich biodiversity.
About 1,000 people gathered at the EAZA conference held from October 8 to 12.
Dr Barman’s first lecture, chaired under the Ciconiiformes, Pelecaniformes, and Phoenicopteriformes TAG group, highlighted the transformational Hargila conservation model from Assam.
She emphasized the role of community-based conservation, particularly through environmental education, to protect the endangered Greater Adjutant Stork (Hargila). She underlined how her conservation work engaging local communities has facilitated behaviour change of the people towards biodiversity protection.
In her second lecture, under the Education chair, Dr. Barman delved into the genesis of the Hargila Army, an all women’s group that leads Greater Adjutant Stork (GAS) conservation efforts in Assam.
She discussed the profound role of women in conservation and how the Assamese women of the Hargila Army have become agents of change and through their leadership, the women have woven environmental education and tradition into an inspiring movement.
Dr Barman called for global conservationists to embrace the power of education and community involvement to transform conflicts into conservation opportunities.
In her third lecture, she focused on the coexistence of people and wildlife, using the community-oriented Hargila conservation efforts model in Assam as a role model for the conservation of other species.
Purnima Devi also proposed to Introduce “World Hargila Day” and took the opportunity to promote her ambitious conservation vision to make the Hargila population 10,000 by the year 2035.
During her talks, Dr. Barman also showcased the Hargila Headdres (Mukha) a unique symbol of the coexistence model of the Hargila Army.
The audience, inspired by her leadership and vision, eagerly embraced the Assamese Gamosa and Mekhela Sador as tangible connections to the cultural and environmental identity of Assam.
The participants at EAZA were deeply impressed by Purnima’s unwavering commitment to not only saving the Hargila but also empowering the entire community, particularly women.
Dr Purnima, recipient of the United Nations highest environmental honour “Champion of the Earth” and two-time Green Oscars by the Whitley fund for nature including the Whitley gold award conferred by Royal Princess Anne, was invited for a one-month learning exchange programme by Wilhelma Zoological and Botanical Garden in Stuttgart in Germany.
Dressed in a maroon colour traditional Assamese hand-woven mekhela sador with a Hargila motif woven by Hargila army and a gamosa adorned with Hargila bird motifs, Dr. Barman showcased the unique connection between culture, biodiversity, and community-driven conservation.
