Karishma Sharma Chamlagain
The Bengal Florican Conservation Project at Kokilabari Agricultural Farm (KAF) in Assam, India, seeks to secure the survival of the critically endangered Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), a grassland bustard symbol of Northeast India's vanishing tall-grass ecosystems, through a holistic strategy that integrates scientific habitat assessments, robust community engagement, and sustainable eco-tourism development. Facing escalating threats from agricultural intensification, habitat fragmentation, and human-wildlife interaction, the project transforms KAF- a key breeding stronghold- into a model of coexistence by fostering goodwill, mutual respect, and shared economic benefits that align biodiversity protection with resilient rural livelihoods.
Central to our efforts is the identification and precise mapping of Bengal Florican use areas across KAF, coupled with detailed evaluations of habitat conditions, breeding status, and seasonal movements. Employing GIS tools, systematic field surveys, camera trapping, and vegetation assessments, we will delineate high-priority zones for exclusive species protection within active farmlands, while advocating conservation-friendly farming practices such as delayed mechanical mowing to protect nests, reduced pesticide use, and targeted habitat protection to enhance foraging and lekking sites.
Parallel to this, we aim to deepen and strengthen community relationships with the Bengal Florican by conducting targeted awareness campaigns, storytelling and knowledge exchange programs, participatory workshops, and training sessions that highlight the species' ecological and cultural value. Establishing a formal community conservation network will empower locals as stewards, providing skills in conflict mitigation, alternative livelihoods, etc, that minimise disturbances while boosting empowerment and income.
Finally, the project also aims to promote responsible tourism as a catalyst for sustainability, offering capacity-building for aspiring nature guides from KAF villages to lead low-impact tours that educate visitors on Florican ecology while enforcing strict protocols to curb noise off-trail access etc creating tangible incentives for long-term stewardship.