Cambodia adapting Assam’s ‘stork army’ model

A successful women-led conservation model from Assam, India, is being adapted for a new community-led initiative in Cambodia. The model, known as the ‘Hargila Army’, has been instrumental in protecting the endangered greater adjutant stork in Assam and is now being used to protect a Ramsar site in Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve.

Key Aspects of the Initiative:

• Training and Collaboration: The initiative is being hosted by Cambodia’s Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). A training program was held on July 28, led by Dr. Purnima Devi Barman, the founder of the Hargila Army and a United Nations Environment Programme Champion of the Earth. The program trained 20 Cambodian women conservationists and park rangers.
• The Hargila Army Model: The model is a grassroots, community-based approach that combines scientific knowledge with cultural traditions. The women of Assam, referred to as the “Hargila Army,” have successfully changed local perceptions of the greater adjutant stork (locally known as hargila, or “bone swallower”) from a nuisance to a valued part of their cultural heritage. They weave stork motifs into textiles, organize educational programs, and protect nesting sites.
• Target Area: The Cambodian initiative is focused on the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, a crucial Ramsar wetland site within the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve.
• Goals: The project aims to empower local communities, particularly women, to lead conservation efforts. It seeks to develop localized conservation strategies tailored to Cambodia’s unique landscape and people.
• Global Impact: The training also led to the formation of a new cross-border conservation network called “Sisters and Brothers of Storks.” This network, which will work alongside the Hargila Army, aims to protect the greater adjutant stork and other stork species globally, promoting the exchange of knowledge and conservation models across similar ecosystems.

(Source; TH)