A Participatory Approach to Conservation and Research

Community-based conservation, despite being inclusive, has been criticised for being a top-down implementation of external ideas brought to the local communities for conservation’s benefit. This is particularly true for the various pastoral communities globally, including Changpas living in the remote region of Changthang in Ladakh.

With this context, it becomes increasingly important to use participatory research to understand issues faced by them in lieu of their livelihoods and relationship with nature. Subsequently, we can use the information generated to co-design context-sensitive interventions to facilitate positive human-nature interactions.

Over the past few years, we have worked with the Changpa communities to co-design and co-implement conservation interventions including corral reinforcement, livestock security programmes tailored to their challenges and needs.

Moreover, we took it a step further by exploring research questions of mutual interest. One such research effort is the community-led wildlife monitoring efforts.

In 2021-2022, we launched a pioneering wildlife monitoring project in Ladakh, harnessing the profound knowledge of the Changpa herders. These herders, with their intimate connection to the remote regions of Changthang, became vital partners in documenting and preserving the region's rich biodiversity. By collaborating with these custodians of the land, we aimed to reveal the true ecological value of these pastures, which had long been the subject of speculation. Additionally, our partnership offered invaluable insights into reasons for livestock depredation—a pressing threat to the herders' livelihoods—and established a frontline defence against poaching and illegal wildlife killings.

To honour their contribution, we ensured that the herders received an honorarium, providing them with a supplemental income source. Furthermore, we committed to addressing the challenges they face in sustaining their livelihoods, offering support tailored through mutual agreement between the herders and our team at NCF. This innovative approach not only reduces conflict between herders and wildlife but also positions these communities as crucial stakeholders in conservation efforts.

To date, we have collaborated with over 100 herders from various communities like Korzok and Phobrang.