Environment

101

e community is engaged in the fight for conservation through awareness progammes

using state-of-the-art technology, meticulous

documentation, motivating the active

participation of communities and building

collaborative partnerships with regional

authorities,’ explains Belinda Wright.

WPSI works to mitigate emerging threats

to wildlife and the creation of a sustainable

coexistence between humans and the natural

world. Strategies consider each landscape’s

unique wildlife, and the socio-cultural

dynamics of its people to design practical

and long-term solutions. Another extremely

impactful initiative is the nation-wide

database on wildlife crime leveraging data,

technology and community participation.

e knowledge generated from this is

disseminated and feeds directly towards

bettering conservation and awareness.

Forest-fringe communities are engaged

in wildlife conservation through awareness

programmes, film screenings and

discussions with regional Forest Departments.

Initiatives include connecting villagers with

government schemes for compensation for

loss of life or crop damage by wildlife; the

above-mentioned volunteer-based informer

scheme which empowers anyone with a

mobile phone to become a wildlife guardian;

and by distributing effective communication

materials to empower communities to become

part of wildlife conservation. ese proven

strategies have contributed significantly to

the region having among the highest tiger

populations in the country.

HCLTech Grant Project Title:

Securing

Tiger Strongholds of India

Beneficiaries:

4,00,000 forest-fringe

dwellers, 1,500 front-line staff of

enforcement agencies, wildlife protection

authorities and the media.

Location:

4526 villages in 7 states