2016 This book was specially compiled to capture the spirit of Balipara Foundation through its two events – ‘Elephant Talk Conference 15 & Balipara Foundation Awards 15 Designed and compiled by Balipara Foundation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To the Asian Elephants for their magnificence To the Balipara Foundation 15 Awardees for their inspiration To the Award Presenters for their humbleness To the Government of Assam & Meghalaya for their unequivocal support. To our Event Mentors- WWF-India, WTI, WCS-India Program & Sanctuary Asia for their knowledge & experience To Nicholas Claxton for his style & composure To Gunter Pauli for his disruptive ideas To the following sponsors for believing & investing in our ideas: Santuary Asia | Tata Trusts | Asamia Pratidin | Pratidin Time Amalgamated Plantations | Wildlife Conservation Society Radio Gup-Shup | Globally Managed Services | Development Alternatives | Hindustan Unilever Limited | Network Travels | ANCF HDFC | Tata Motors | Tata Global Beverages | Eclectic North East The Club of Rome | Wildlife Trust of India | WWF | IUCN The Corbett Foundation Balipara Tract & Frontier Foundation: Navin Enclave, A1, 1st floor, Mother Teresa Road, Zoo Narengi, Guwahati – 781021, Assam, India. www.baliparafoundation.com CONTENTS Preamble Vision-Mission Launch of “Water” 02 04 08 2015 Balipara 2013 and 2014 Balipara Page | 1 Elephant Talk 2015 Foundation Awards Foundation Awards 10 20 42 Conservation Stories 44 1 2 PREAMBLE On the 5th & 6th of November 2015, from 6 North Eastern States, the we concluded the 3rd Edition of our Government of Bhutan and more than 30 Annual two day Conservation Event NGOs from India, Myanmar, USA, UK & in Guwahati, Assam. These events Thailand, the forum discussed ways and were conceptualized around two avenues for a collaborative approach. distinctive varieties of mammals. Dynamic mentorship came from WWF- The first is the largest of its type India Secretariat, WTI, WCS-India and the second the most intelligent. Program and support from many other The first threatened and the second Organizations. thriving. Both emotional and social Balipara Foundation Awards 2015: creatures. Elephant & Man. Saluting Environmental Crusaders from While the Elephant Talk Conference, The Eastern Himalayas”. as the title suggests, revolved The Awards brought together some around identifying the right ideas of the brightest and inspiring minds towards conservation, The Balipara in biodiversity conservation and Foundation Environmental Awards, environmental Think-tanks to deliberate sought to inspire by the telling of and come up with actionable solutions to stories of our compassion, creativity restore the fractured biodiversity of the & capacities that enable us to seek region. One of the primary objective of the the lofty ideals of conservation. Awards is to bring into focus grassroot We are certain that these small conservation case studies and real life steps we have taken will lead us champions of the Eastern Himalayan to the big ideas that we can see Region. Since the inaugural Awards lies ahead. We see a future where in 2013, Balipara Foundation Awards these ideas will make conservation has been saluting and recognizing a creative process towards the outstanding efforts towards biodiversity expression of the unique human conservation and restoration in the qualities that makes it possible for Eastern Himalayan Region. us to think, in the first place, that we can actually make a difference. Elephant Talk 2015: Creating Drivers for Conservation Delving upon the topics of corridor-connectivity, conflict resolution & long-term planning, Elephant Talk 15 created a platform for Governmental & Non-Governmental Agencies to get together and build consensus on Joint Long-term Planning. Participated by State Governments 3 The Balipara Tract & Frontier Foundation is based out of the Assam, India and is strategically located within the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hot-spot. Established in 2007, the Foundation has promoted its concept of NaturenomicsTM to organizations, industries and governments across the world. The Foundation has been the front-runner in strategizing an alternative developmental model for the North-Eastern Region of India. OUR VISION Conserving & Preserving our Natural Heritage OBJECTIVES Facilitate co-existence through interdependence MISSION Develop Symbiotic Models around Conservation-Community-Technology Imperatives 4 ACTION PRIORITY Large Landscape Management Programs Resource Management Programs Knowledge Delivery Programs 5 Cost Cost Incurred Estimates Vertical Programs Program Objectives Progress from 2015 Deliverables for 2016 2015 (INR 2016 (INR Million) Million) • Conduct Landscape Level • Facilitated a 2 • Undertake a 3 Research on Wildlife Conservation Migration & Migration & Movement Partnership Model Movement Pattern Patterns across the between WCS- India Study of Asian Landscape, with the Asian Program, ANCF, Elephants through Elephant as the Flagship Indian Institute of Radio Collaring, Species, to inform Science, Bangalore a first-of-its- Landscape Conservation & APPL Foundation kind initiative in Planning towards Research Kaziranga, with plans & Conservation to Radio Collar 6 • Work with Local Planning. Elephants Communities & Private Land Owners, especially • Completed Phase 1 • Secure the 4 Tea Estates, to connect of Wildlife Occupancy critical corridors Kaziranga critical migration Modeling in the identified by WTI Landscape Corridors between 360 km2 area that in the landscape Biodiversity Conservation Kaziranga- Karbi Anglong. connects the (Kalapahar- Conservation Program Kaziranga & Karbi Daigurung, Panbari, (continued) Anglong Landscapes. Kanchanjuri & Deochur). • Conducted seasonal observation survey • Submit a on Asian Elephant Conservation Migration using the 3 Action Report to traditional “corridors” the Government of that connect Assam and other Kaziranga to Karbi Stakeholders based Anglong. on the Occupancy Modeling Study and data outcomes. Publish list of Critical Priorities and facilitate Action • Develop the Concept of an • Preliminary meetings 0.2 • Develop the Indo 5 Indo Bhutan Green Belt conducted with the Bhutan Green Belt (The Original Proposal Department of Forests Proposal covering for an Indo-Bhutan Green & Park Services, 4000 Km2 with Belt, was discussed by Government of Bhutan Opportunities in the both Governments in the and a copy of the present day context. mid 1980s.) Original Proposal • Undertake a Pilot received. • Habitat Restoration of Reforestation Project degraded forests in the • Developed a Technical in the Khalingduar region Partnership with the Reserve Forest Outreach Team at the as a pre-cursor to • Build Forest Protection University of North future reforestation Capacities on both sides of Carolina to mitigate & restoration the border Indo-Bhutan Conflict and towards initiatives. Landscape • Work with local building community • Conduct Movement Conservation communities and build resilience. Pattern Study Program their capacities to deal through Radio with HEC Situations Collaring • Estimate Asian Elephants Populations in the Indo-Bhutan Border Region/Proposed Green Belt. • Form an HEC Rapid Response Team in the Udalguri District in the Indo-Bhutan Border 6 Cost Cost Incurred Estimates Vertical Programs Program Objectives Progress from 2015 Deliverables for 2016 2015 (INR 2016 (INR Million) Million) • Establish a Center for • Partnership with 1 • Herbarium of all 300+ 5 Botanical Conservation & River Journeys & Medicinal Plants of Conservation Research Bungalows of India to Assam establish the Center at • Seed Bank of all their 22 Acre Campus 120+ Tree Species of in Assam. Assam • Conducted a • Seed Bank of Biodiversity Audit and 50+ ‘non-hybrid’ identified the following vegetable varieties. species in the Campus • Orchid Bank of 300+ # 54 Bird Species Species found in # 50+ Butterfl y & Moth Assam Species • Research Plans: # 14 Amphibian Species # Floristic Survey of # 9 Snake Species 5 National Parks of Assam • Established a Herbarium of 58 # Ethno-botany Study Medicinal Plants of of Assam Assam # 5 year Research on • Established a Seed Growth Parameters Botanical & Bank of 150+ Species, of Tissue Culture Conservation including 72 varieties Bamboo in progress Center of Rice. (2 years completed) • Research Initiated: # Comparisons of Germination Rates # 5 year Research on in Forest Collected Growth Parameters Seeds under of Tissue Culture natural & controlled Bamboo in progress (2 environments. years completed) # Carbon Stock # Comparisons of Estimation of Germination Rates Assam’s Tree in Forest Collected Varieties. Seeds under natural & controlled # Disturbance Index in environments. Reserve Forests of Sonitpur, Assam # Carbon Stock Estimation of Assam’s # Habitat Mapping of Tree Varieties. the Monocoled Cobra in Sonitpur, Assam # Disturbance Index in Reserve Forests of Sonitpur, Assam # Habitat Mapping of the Monocoled Cobra in Sonitpur, Assam • Develop an Enterprise • NA 00 • Study the Efficiency 1 driven Model for the & Gaps of the supply & distribution of Government- safe and cheap drinking managed Rural water to households, Drinking Water communities and Supply Scheme in Portable Social townships. Sonitpur & Udalguri Water Enterprise Districts of Assam. Delivery • Submit Plan to the State Government to Revive & Rejuvenate the Scheme 7 Cost Cost Incurred Estimates Vertical Programs Program Objectives Progress from 2015 Deliverables for 2016 2015 (INR 2016 (INR Million) Million) • Develop an Enterprise • NA 00 •