Conserving Central Indian Highlands through a jugalbandi approach

Mumbai: The jugalbandi approach is the best option for conservation for the Central Indian Highlands (CIH), which are a critical ecological and socio-economic region, home to diverse species, including tigers, and vital to the livelihoods of millions.

The Network for Conserving Central India (NCCI) is set to host the Sixth Central Indian Landscape Symposium (CILS6) from January 7-10, 2025, during which experts across India and the globe will deliberate on several crucial issues concerning the vast region.

The theme for this year’s symposium, 'Jugalbandi: Exploring the Duality and Dance of People’s Livelihoods and Ecological Integrity', ventures into the complex relationship between ecological conservation and sustainable livelihoods in the Central Indian Highlands.

This landmark event to be held at Olive Resorts, Sillari Pench in Maharashtra marks a decade of interdisciplinary collaboration and action, bringing together experts, practitioners, and policymakers to address the pressing challenges of conserving the Central Indian Highlands.

Amrita Neelakantan, Executive Director, NCCI, said: “Over the past decade in Central India, it’s been a rewarding journey, seeing the NCCI grow and work to bridge academic and practical divides. Our flagship work on connectivity has united scientific consensus and public engagement, supporting grassroots practitioners, researchers, and decision-makers to collaborate in shared spaces and tackle on-the-ground challenges. As a connected network, we strengthen diverse pathways for the coexistence of people and nature. Our small grants programme, supporting bottom-up approaches and filling knowledge gaps, aligns with our goal of coexistence between people and wildlife, framed in our ‘Jugalbandi’ approach. It’s inspiring to see how this collaborative effort shapes the work ahead for a thriving Central India”.

Mandar Pingle, Deputy Director, Satpuda Foundation, remarked: “CILS provides a unique platform for diverse stakeholders to engage, exchange ideas, and support each other. What began within academia has expanded into a collaborative network that bridges siloes and converges efforts from grassroots activists to global leaders. It’s a space where we continually refine our action plans, hold each other accountable, and give direction to our collective goals.”

Over the course of three days, CILS6 will dive into some of the most pressing issues shaping the future of Central India’s landscapes. Boasting an exceptional speaker lineup, including Sejal Worah, Programme Director, WWF India, Chandrakant Yadav, Executive Director, Gramodaya Chhattisgarh, and Swapan Mehra, CEO, IORA Ecological Solutions, CILS6 will foster collaboration and innovation to tackle the region’s social and ecological challenges.

Experts will lead discussions on wildlife connectivity in fragmented habitats, exploring challenges and solutions to maintaining and enhancing habitat corridors. Drawing from the latest research and successful field interventions, these sessions aim to shed light on the delicate balance of preserving biodiversity amid development pressures.

A session on agrobiodiversity will centre around traditional millets like kodo and kutki, exploring their role in improving nutritional security and creating sustainable livelihoods for indigenous communities in the landscape. Additionally, discussions on financing conservation will explore innovative financial mechanisms to support ecological restoration and climate resilience projects.

In addition to these sessions, participants will experience a field visit to the NH-44 wildlife underpass, a remarkable solution to habitat fragmentation between the Pench and Kanha Tiger Reserves. This practical insight into infrastructure’s role in conservation will be complemented by student presentations in the form of a poster session featuring research on agrobiodiversity, AI applications in conservation, the socio-ecological impacts of invasive species, and more.

Cartoonist Rohan Chakravarty, the creator of Green Humour, will share his unique approach to conservation through art and humour.