The Barriers to Conserving India’s Lesser Known Species

According to conservationists working the field, politics, visibility, and superstition are some of the primary issue faced in protecting India’s lesser known species.

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Saving the lesser known species of India has been a challenge for several environmentalists in the country. While those working with the magnificent Asiatic Lion or the mesmerizing Bengal Tiger have had comparatively easier journeys, those associated with the less visible, and non-mainstream entities have had their fair share of tightrope walks. A detailed, on-ground experience of the same was elaborated by three wildlife conservationists on a panel discussion organized by The Habitats Trust- Rajesh Puttaswamaiah, Nayantara Jain, and Parag Deka.

While the issues of climate change, poaching, and deforestation have resulted in a general reduction of species, there are many lesser known ones who are on the brink of disappearing. Several are even waiting to be discovered. “For instance, in the last ten years itself, over eight new species of the Indian Bat have been discovered,” Mr. Puttuswamaiah says. Mr. Puttaswamaiah is a citizen scientist and the Founder Trustee of Bat Conservation India Trust. He is associated with the conservation of the Kolar Leaf-Nosed Bat and is a former recipient of The Habitats Trust Grant for the conservation of lesser known species.


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Mr. Puttaswamaiah adds that one of the primary problems they face in the conservation of bats is the stigma attached to it. “Everyone thinks of it as a deviant animal…elders, children…everyone. Bats have always been maligned and often ignored in the sectors of conservation,” he says. Apart from formulating a positive perception towards bats, finding data and information has also been troublesome. He adds, “In the case of the Kolar Leaf-Nosed Bat, the first-ever picture of it was taken in 2014. This was 20 years after the bat was discovered (in 1994).” It was a group of researchers from Osmania City who, under the leadership of Dr. Bhargavi Srinivas, first documented the species.

Reefwatch India’s Nayantara Jain adds that conservation of species that are less visible to the community round it is also troublesome. Ms. Jain works with the Coral Reefs of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which are not known to a number of people due to them being underwater. “Many times, the forest department officials also didn’t know what species I was talking about. They were not aware of it being under their jurisdiction, and that added an extra layer of barriers for us,” she says, adding that taking funds from corporates was difficult due to the islands’ distance from mainland India. Reefwatch India was the recipient of The Habitats Trust Grant in 2018.

Parag Deka, Program Manager, Aaranyak, works with Pigney Hogs of Manas grasslands. He says that one of the primary issues they had to face was the natural change in habitat from grasslands to woodlands. “Also, anthropogenic people on the grassland tend to become a barrier. The grasslands of Manas underwent socio-political unrest for 19 years and the entire protection mechanism in that while reduced to zero, hence enhancing the degradation of the habitat,” Mr. Deka says.

The panellists also mentioned that involving the local community in the journey of conservation is necessary. “We are mere catalysts. It is the localites that will take on the longer struggle of conserving and restoring a species/habitat,” Mr. Puttuswamaiah adds. Ms. Das adds that long before her organization began actual conservation work of the Coral Reefs, they engaged with the local fishermen community to peak their interest. “I was privileged enough to explore those waters with kayaking and underwater diving, but many of the locals were not acquainted with all that. In the first few years of our work, we connected the people with their landscape and taught them how to swim. We trust their lived experience to inform us of any natural disasters that may arrive,” she says. Currently, 2 out the 4 full-time employees at the reef restoration site managed by ReefWatch are localites.

Mr. Deka adds that in order to achieve the ultimate goal of conservation, we will have to do away with the idea of ‘fencing’. “After working with communities, we realized that we will have to do away with the ‘fencing’ model, where we cut off the land from locals. We need to ingrain values of conservation in them, and have them understand the importance of Manas for their sustainability,” he adds. Mr. Deka’s organization was a recipient of the grant in 2019.


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The Habitats Trust Grants

The panel discussion was part of a symposium organized by The Habitats Trust for its fourth annual grant. First initiated in August 2018, The Habitats Trust Grant attempts to recognize and support individuals and organizations that are engaged in conserving India’s natural habitats and the indigenous species of flora and fauna. All three panelists mentioned above were recipients of the grant in its former years.

In the last 3 years, the organization has been able to support groups and individuals from Nagaland, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Island, among many others. The recipients have been involved in the conservation of several at-risk specifies, such as coral reefs, pangolins, the Malabar tree toad, the Great Indian Bastard, and the Kolar leaf-nosed Bat. The grant, this year, is being offered to 3 organizations and 1 individual, and ranges between Rs. 15-35 lakh. These would be administered for 2 years.

(To register for the grant, click here)