HT Bureau
Guwahati, July 28: In an effort to provide economic support and reduce dependency on the Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), forty beneficiaries from Dhaniya village, situated on the fringe of the sanctuary, have been assisted with lemon and betel nut saplings, Napier grass stumps, and vermicompost tanks.
The initiative, supported by the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), aims to help the villagers opt for alternative crops and practices to supplement their income and reduce crop damage caused by wild animals from the sanctuary straying into their fields.
Aaranyak, a biodiversity conservation organisation, played a crucial role in coordinating the distribution of materials to the villagers. Lemon saplings were provided to create a bio fence around their homestead, protecting their crops from straying animals. Additionally, betel nut saplings were given as a one-time investment to provide long-term economic benefits, as wild animals do not typically damage betel nut plants.
Furthermore, Napier grass stumps were provided to help the villagers grow nutrition supplements for their cattle, reducing the need to graze them inside the sanctuary. The vermicompost tanks will enable the beneficiaries to produce organic manure using locally available raw materials like cow dung, creating a sustainable economic benefit that may be adopted by other villagers as well.
Officials from the Dhaniya Range of Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary were present during the distribution of the assistance to the villagers on July 25. The initiative is expected to alleviate some of the economic challenges faced by the fringe villagers and promote harmonious coexistence with the sanctuary’s wildlife.
