Community participation in conservation is an idea that has been operational for a while. But World-wide Fund (WWF), India has taken the idea further wit h their project in western Arunachal Pradesh. Adding to the basic principle that local resources are best managed by local people, the WWF has roped in the forest department. The reasoning is based on getting the best out of all involved, Thus, the forest department will contribute its scientific skills and the local people will contribute their traditional knowledge as well supervise the long-term success of the project.

The project had one great advantage: communities in this region have always understood the link between their welfare and that of the environment. In conservation terms this is a valuable quality because it means that the people will be that much more willing and able to preserve their areas. In fact, the impetus to conserve came from the communities themselves after a November 2004 resolution passed by the panchayat of Thembang village in West Khameng district, banned hunting and the harvesting of trees for a period of 10 years in an effort to give the environment time to rejuvenate itself.

In Arunachal Pradesh this dedication is invaluable since most of the forest area of this region remains unclassified and hence open to free logging. The 10-year period will be used by the WWF to train people in the long-term management of community conserved areas or CCAs. The time will also be used to develop sustainable alternatives for the development of the socio-economic needs of the people.

The crucial point in the project is to ensure that the livelihood strategies selected by the communities are based on long-term environmental and economic sustainability. The final aim is to phase out external involvement, leaving villagers to manage conservation issues thereby bringing alive the ultimate conservation dream of CCAs. This is the first Community Conserved Area to be set up in Arunachal Pradesh and it is hoped that it will be a model for the rest of the North-East region.

A grant of Rs 4.63million was sanctioned in 2006-2007, for two years.