EECEP Community Conservation Area (CCA): A Community-Led Conservation Initiative

A Community Conservation Area (CCA) is defined as:
“Natural ecosystems (forest, marine, wetlands, grasslands, or others), including those with minimal to substantial human influence, containing significant wildlife and biodiversity value, conserved by communities for cultural, religious, livelihood, or political purposes, using customary laws or other effective means.”

The Elopa–Etugu Community Eco-Cultural Preserve (EECEP) is India’s first community-conserved wet tropical grassland. Established in June 2022, members of the Pulu, Mitapo, Linggi, and Menda clans of the Idu Mishmi community from Elopa and Etugu villages in Lower Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh formally declared 7,600 hectares of customary land as a Community Conservation Area.

It spans elevations from 185 to 1,540m, and includes riverine grasslands, wet tropical forests, and subtropical forests — some of the most threatened ecosystems in India. It is both ecologically significant and culturally rooted, reflecting deep human–nature relationships that continue to shape local livelihoods and local conservation practices.

Through this declaration, the community has strengthened protection of vulnerable ecosystems and species while also creating opportunities for dignified local livelihoods. Young people from the community are engaged as coordinators, rangers, researchers, and eco-guides, supporting conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

EECEP works across conservation research, community-led governance, ecological monitoring, and inter-community knowledge exchange, including long-term studies on species such as hoolock gibbon. These activities are grounded in local knowledge systems and guided by customary institutions.

This initiative also contributes to global environmental commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, the Glasgow COP26 declaration, and the Convention on Biological Diversity, through community-led habitat protection and restoration.

Since its declaration, EECEP has implemented a range of community-led conservation, research, community-led governance, and livelihood initiatives. These include bi-annual wildlife monitoring, long-term research on the endangered hoolock gibbon, vegetation studies, and documentation of Idu Mishmi traditional ecological knowledge. Community rangers conduct regular patrols to protect the CCA, while capacity-building activities strengthen local governance.  Eco-tourism infrastructure has also been developed, supporting knowledge exchange with other communities across Northeast India and promoting eco-tourism.

These efforts have contributed to the continued protection of critically endangered species such as the Bengal florican and Chinese pangolin, while also generating local employment, strengthening community cohesion, and promoting intergenerational knowledge sharing. EECEP has emerged as a regional model for community-led conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

Community-Led Governance and Protection

Community-led conservation in EECEP is rooted in participatory governance and customary law. The CCA is managed through community-created institutions, with the Management Committee playing a central role in guiding conservation efforts, decision-making, and ensuring alignment with community priorities and ecological goals.

Regular meetings, trainings, and knowledge exchanges strengthen the capacity of committee members and support collective decision-making. The Management Committee, comprising 20 members, meets quarterly to review progress, address management challenges, and plan future conservation activities, ensuring accountability and reinforcing community ownership.

Strong governance is supported through continuous coordination between the Management Committee and community rangers to respond to emerging challenges and implement solutions collectively.

Alongside governance, EECEP has a robust system of community-led habitat protection. Community rangers conduct regular patrols across the 7,600-hectare CCA to safeguard habitats, monitor threats, and ensure compliance with community rules. They also maintain trails, camps, and field infrastructure that support conservation, research, and eco-tourism activities.

Future efforts will further strengthen protection through improved monitoring systems and technology, including the SMART patrol app. Together, participatory governance, community involvement, and on-ground protection provide a strong foundation for the long-term conservation of EECEP’s ecosystems and biodiversity.

About Dibang Team 

The Dibang Team is a collective of Idu Mishmi people from the twin districts of the Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, India. We have been working to conserve the region’s bio-cultural diversity while creating sustainable livelihoods. We combine Western science with Idu knowledge, culture, and spirituality to strengthen our cultural and traditional institutions, ensuring that the region’s biocultural diversity continues to thrive for generations.