Research Article | Published: 31 October 2024

Collaborative conservation strategies: The role of communities in Uttarakhand’s Naina Devi Himalayan bird conservation reserve

Anjali Bhartari and Anjali Sherawat

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 47 | Issue: 3 | Page No. 169-176 | 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2024-M24TNA | Cite this article

Abstract

The Naina Devi Himalayan Bird Conservation Reserve was established through a collaborative process involving the forest department and the local community to preserve the rich biodiversity in the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand state in India. This conservation effort was developed to incorporate local knowledge and priorities, strengthening that meaningful community involvement is vital for the reserve’s sustainable management. The Conservation Reserve's goals remain unmet due to poor management, limited funding, and insufficient institutional support from the government, resulting in unfocused conservation efforts. The present work undertakes an empirical assessment of community involvement, analyzing current management practices as well as highlighting opportunities to enhance community participation in the reserve's management and conservation. This study presents a significant opportunity to strengthen collaborative conservation efforts and offer actionable insights to improve collaboration between the reserve's management and the local community. Based on research findings on three major interventions, viz., community participation in capacity-building programmes, community participation in reserve through management committee, and benefit-sharing with the community, the present paper discussed valuable insights and proposed suggestions to underscore the need for a more inclusive and well-supported management framework to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Conservation Reserve.

Keywords

Avian fauna, Community, Eco Development Committees, Management, Nainital, Skill development, Wildlife

Access Options

250/-

Buy Full Access in HTML Format

Instant access to the full article.

Get access to the full version of this article. Buy Full Access in HTML Format

References

1. Agarwal, A. and Gibson, C.C., 1999. Enchantment and Disenchantment: The Role of Community in Natural Resource Conservation. World Development, 27(4), pp.629-649.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(98)00161-2

Google Scholar

2. Aggarwal,  P.K. and Naidu K., 2021. A Study on Importance of Training and Development In Hotel & Tourism Industry In Uttarakhand. VSRD International Journal of Accounts, Economics and Commerce Research, VII(I), pp.1-8.

Google Scholar

3. Bajracharya, S., Furley, P. and Newton, A., 2008. Impacts of Community-based Conservation on Local Communities in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal. Human Exploitation and Biodiversity Conservation, 15, pp.425-446.  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5283-5_24

Google Scholar

4. Bhartari, R.A., 2011. Community-Based Tourism: Chhoti Haldwani. Context; Gurgaon,VIII(1), Spring/Summer

Google Scholar

5. Convention on Biological Diversity, 2011. Conference of the Parties Decision X/2: Strategic plan for biodiversity 2011–2020. www.cbd.int/decision/cop/?id=12268.

Google Scholar

6. Gunderson, L.H., 2000. Ecological Resilience – In Theory and Application Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 31, pp.425-439.  https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.31.1.425

Google Scholar

7. Gupta, S. and Bhatt, V.P., 2009. Community-Based Tourism Development: A Case Study of Eco Village Sari in Kedarnath Sanctuary Region. International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Systems, [online] Available at: http://www.publishingindia.com/GetBrochure.aspx?query=UERGQnJvY2h1cmVzfC80NDUucGRmfC80NDUucGRm (Accessed: 27 July 2024).

Google Scholar

8. https://investuttarakhand.uk.gov.in/themes/backend/uploads/focus_Sector_Tourism.pdf (Accessed on 21 July 2024).

9. https://ecotourism.org/what-is-ecotourism/ (Accessed on 23 June 2024).

10. Inception Report, 2023. Project Development and Management Consultants under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme for Uttarakhand, INCEPTION REPORT, Deloitte. Submitted to: Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Government Of Uttarakhand. https://sd2.tourism.gov.in/DocumentRepoFiles/InceptionReport/INR115004ae-7263-493f-9379-9d45339ae7d9.pdf 

11. Infield, M. and Namara, A., 2001. Community attitudes and behaviour towards conservation: An assessment of a community conservation program around Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, Oryx, 35, pp.48-60.  https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3008.2001.00151.x

Google Scholar

12. IUCN International Policy Centre, 2022. Enabling a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework fit for purpose: Perspectives and reflections for the the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties, Montreal, Canada, December 2022. Gland, Switzerland.

13. Kala, C.P., 2011. Ecotourism and Sustainable Development of Mountain Communities: A Study of Dhanolti Ecopark in Uttarakhand State of India. Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 1(5), pp.98-103.  https://doi.org/10.12691/aees-1-5-5

Google Scholar

14. Kala, D. and Bagri, S.C., 2018. Barriers to local community participation in tourism development: Evidence from mountainous state Uttarakhand, India. Tourism: An International Interdisciplinary Journal, 66(3), pp.318-333.

Google Scholar

15. Karanth, K.K., DeFries, R., Srivathsa, A. and Sankaraman, V., 2012. Wildlife Tourists in India's Emerging Economy: Potential for a Conservation Constituency? Oryx, 46(3), pp.382-390. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003060531100086X

Google Scholar

16. National Wildlife Database Cell, 2023. Wildlife Institute of India. Available at: https://wii.gov.in/nwdc_aboutus

17. Pillai, K.R. and Suchintha, B., 2006. Women empowerment for biodiversity conservation through self-help groups: a case from Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India. International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance, and Ecology, 5(4), pp.338-355.  https://doi.org/10.1504/IJARGE.2006.009925

Google Scholar

18. Saklani, R., 2024. Uttarakhand Cabinet Decision Approval Given to Van Panchayat Amendment. Amar Ujala, 15 March. Available at: https://www.amarujala.com/dehradun/uttarakhand-cabinet-decision-approval-given-to-van-panchayat-amendment-2024-03-15 (Accessed: 19 March 2024).

19. Sameer, P., Deepa, P. and Ishwari Datt, P., 2022, Van Panchayats of Uttarakhand as role model for community forest management. XV World Forestry Congress. https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/f6b4106c-6f85-4c29-afe5-4e079b036bc4/content

Google Scholar

20. Singh, R.B., Mal, S. and Kala, C.P., 2009. Community responses to mountain tourism: A case in Bhyundar Valley, Indian Himalaya. Journal of Mountain Science, 6(4), pp.394-404.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-009-1054-y

Google Scholar

21. Venter, O., Fuller, R.A., Segan, D.B., Carwardine, J., Brooks, T., Butchart, S.H.M., Marco, M.D., Iwamura, T., Joseph, L., O'Grady, D., Possingham, H.P., Rondinini, C., Smith, R.J., Venter, M. and Watson, J.E.M. 2014. Targeting Global Protected Area Expansion for Imperiled Biodiversity, PLoS Biology, 12(6), e1001891.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001891

Google Scholar

About this article

How to cite

Bhartari, A. and Sherawat, A., 2024. Collaborative conservation strategies: The role of communities in Uttarakhand’s Naina Devi Himalayan bird conservation reserve. Indian Journal of Forestry, 47(3), pp.169-176. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2024-M24TNA

Publication History

Manuscript Received on 03 October 2024

Manuscript Revised on 23 October 2024

Manuscript Accepted on 25 October 2024

Manuscript Published on 31 October 2024

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: