Itanagar: The Hornbill Nest Adoption Programme (HNAP), an initiative to protect Hornbill nests in the fringe forest area of Pakke Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary (PTRWS) in East Kameng district is an added endeavour of state’s department of environment and forest (DoEF), wildlife and biodiversity PCCF JL Singh said.
This would not only give a new lease of life to the endangered species, the state bird of Arunachal Pradesh, and boost their population but could be considered as a glaring example of public private partnership (PPP) model, he said.
Pakke is the only Hornbill sanctuary in India.
District Forest Officer Tana Tapi, who initiated the programme said, HNAP aims at ensuring the conservation of Hornbill population, now threatened due to habitat loss and hunting.
Hornbill nesting habitat is being degraded because of loss and shortage of nesting sites outside the protected areas, he stated.
It would extend protection and monitoring efforts outside the park with the involvement of locals, the officer reasoned.
Besides being a long-term wildlife conservation effort, it would help collect ecological information on the majestic bird for research and planning, he said.
In all, 14 nesting areas are under protection. It would be extended to other villages in subsequent years with availability of funds, he informed.
The unique effort has not only increased inflow of tourists, bird lovers and watchers, but also volunteers from within and abroad, including from Singapore to support the project with funds, Mr Tapi concluded with satisfaction.
The forest around PTRWS harbors four Hornbill species – Great Hornbills, Wreathed, Oriental Pied and the Rufous-Necked, listed 10 Schedule l of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972), while the last variety is a globally threatened bird species, he disclosed. (UNI)
