RCE Mishmi Hills - 2021

Conservation of the Mishimi Hills Hoolock Gibbon in the human dominated fragmented habitats in Lower Dibang Valley District
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Conservation of the Mishimi Hills Hoolock Gibbon in the human dominated fragmented habitats in Lower Dibang Valley District
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Mishmi Hills
Contributing organization(s) : 
Abralow Memorial Multipurpose Society, Biodiversity Management Committee Hunli and Keraa-aa Society
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Abbralow Memorial Multipurpose Society
Organizational Affiliation: 
Under Society Registration
E-mail: 
ammshunli@gmail.com
Name: 
Keraa-aa Society
Organizational Affiliation: 
Under Society Registration
E-mail: 
kastipccroing@gmail.com
Format of project: 
Manuscript
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Web link: 
www.kgihe.in
Additional resources: 
KGIHE Kebali ROING (facebook)
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Climate Action,Life on Land, Conserving Community Model , Tourism
At what level is the policy operating?: 
Local
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Country: 
India
Location(s): 
Arungo Village , Arunachal Pradesh
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Village:Arungo,PO/PS,Roing, Lower Dibang Valley District, Arunachal Pradesh, Pin-792110 , India
Ecosystem(s):
Agricultural
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Primary, Teacher Ed., Youth (Informal)
Farmer
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Hoolock Gibbon (genus Hoolock) is the only ape species found in India. Mishmi Hills Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock mishimiensis) is one of three subspecies of Hoolock Gibbon described by Dr. Anwaruddin Choudhury in 2013 and is endemic to the Mishimi Hills of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh.
The Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary located in Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh is one of the prime habitat for the Mishimi Hills Hoolock Gibbon. Due to developmental activities some of the fringe areas are now disconnected from Mehao but harbours viable population of Gibbons. These are private lands which are now severely fragmented due to human activities. The Gibbons in these habitats are under tremendous pressure due to threats from lack of corridors, food plants, electrocution, dog bites etc. Hence there is an urgent need to undertake grassroot conservation works on the species.
The proposed project aims to gather ecological data on the status of the Gibbons in the proposed areas through extensive surveys. The data gathered from baseline surveys will be helpful to implement proposed conservation initiatives. GIS analysis will help to know the intensity of forest degradation and corridor options of the Gibbons. The project will follow the participatory approach to involve all the stakeholders.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
The proposed project will be carried out on the Mishimi Hills Hoolock Gibbon which is endemic to the Mishimi Hills. Not much information is available on this Gibbon and their population is unknown.
The project will be implemented in the fringe areas of Mehao WLS which are severely fragmented and disconnected from Mehao due to anthropogenic activities like human settlement, logging agriculture, road construction etc. These villages harbours the Gibbons which are now stranded and distributed in very small pockets due to lack of forests cover and available corridors. These Gibbons are threatened due to electrocution, dog bits, lack of food plants, corridors etc. So there is an urgent need for research based community interventions to address the issues.

The project aims to determine the present status of the Gibbons in these fragmented habitats and initiate community-based conservation. The project will be helpful to generate scientific data on these Gibbons which will be helpful to implement site-specific conservation plans. The community-based approach will help to sensitize and involve the local communities in conservation and generate sustainable livelihood options for them.

Contents
Period: 
November, 2021
Rationale: 
Awareness campaigns and public meetings will be conducted in the sites to sensitize the locals on the importance of Gibbon conservation. Capacity building programmes will be conducted to train the locals on sustainable livelihood options.
Objectives: 
i) To determine the status of Mishimi Hills Hoolock Gibbon in the fragmented forests in the fringe of Mehao WLS
ii) Assessment of the visible threats and people’s attitude towards the Gibbons
iii) Analysis of the spatial and temporal changes in the areas using GIS tools
iv) Corridoring of the isolated Gibbon habitats using participatory community based conservation model
Activities and/or practices employed: 
1. Help to secure and restore the isolated Gibbons habitats which is part of larger landscape of Mehao WLS. The objectives of the project will also help to connect the isolated Gibbon populations through dedicated corridors.
2. Mass afforestation will carried out at locations with the students communities
3. Community conservation will be initiated by involving all the stakeholders via. awareness programmes, community meetings etc. to sensitize them about the need for Gibbon conservation.
4. Capacity building programmes organised for the stakeholders for sustainable livelihood generation like Fishery , Goat Farming, Poultry, Piggery, Eco-tourism etc.
Size of academic audience: 
100000
Results: 
1. Students will take part in environmental, anti-drug and sanitation awareness Programme , such as carrying out catapulting seed bombs programs, etc.

2. Students along with community will take part in Awareness and plantation drive at Arungo Village.
Lessons learned: 
Active participation from students,farmer and Villagers.

-More involvement of youth can drive to more positive results for environment conservation & protection.
Key messages: 
Saving Mishmi Hills Hoolock Gibbon' Song through education and awareness
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
Environmental Awareness
Funding: 
No

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon IMG-20210828-WA0006.jpg (144.75 KB) Mishmi Hills Hoolock Gibbon RCE MISHMI HILLS
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Indirect
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
Indirect
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Indirect
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Direct
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Direct
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Indirect
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Indirect
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Indirect
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Direct
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Direct
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
Agriculture 
Direct
Arts 
Indirect
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Ecotourism 
Direct
Forests/Trees 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Direct
Waste 
Indirect
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct