Guwahati: A group of community leaders, known as Village Champions (VCs), from human-elephant conflict (HEC) affected areas in Assam and Meghalaya participated in an exposure visit to the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape from April 4 to 7.
The initiative was organised as part of the “Journey for Learning,” a community-based eco-cultural tourism programme facilitated by Aaranyak and the British Asian Trust, with support from the Darwin Initiative.
The Village Champions, trained to promote human-elephant coexistence and empowered to monitor HEC, play a vital role in bolstering conservation efforts in their communities.
This educational trip was designed to enhance their understanding of biodiversity conservation, eco-tourism, and sustainable livelihoods.
The tour included visits to Phumen Engti and Hemai Lekthe villages in Karbi Anglong, where the team engaged in eco-cultural village walks and forest treks.
The group interacted with the local Karbi community to learn about agroforestry, sericulture, handicrafts, and traditional cooking methods.
A morning safari in Kaziranga National Park provided an opportunity to observe the park’s rich biodiversity and understand its management practices.
The team also met with local entrepreneurs involved in “Pirbi,” a community-led business initiative, to explore how traditional knowledge and sustainable practices support livelihoods.
Visits to a community nursery and the Orchid and Biodiversity Park further enriched the learning experience.
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Aaranyak officials, including Dr. Jayanta Roy and other team members, facilitated the trip, emphasising the importance of community-driven initiatives in conserving biodiversity and improving human-wildlife coexistence.
The visit was described as a transformative experience for the Village Champions, broadening their perspective on eco-tourism and sustainable development.
