Guwahati: The Rabha tribal community in South Kamrup, Assam, has started a plantation drive of the splendid Hollong tree, which is the official tree of the state as well. This was done in view of creating a better environment for vultures. This step was important because vultures’ habitats are shrinking in Assam at a rapid speed.
The Chandubi Festival Celebration Committee, with help from local organisers such as Arsu, the Borduwar-Bholagaon Regional Sixth Schedule Demand Committee, and the Borduwar-Bholagaon Regional Rabha Mahila Parishad, organised the tree-planting programme.
Their main aim behind this was to protect vultures and conserve their habitats. The other purpose behind the plantation was to raise awareness regarding the significance of the Vulture Colony and Chandubi Wetland in the Loharghat area.
Conservationist Matiram Rabha went on to say that the Hollong tree is commonly available in the region of upper Assam. Therefore, the plantation of Hollong saplings is a positive step for the local environment. However, Arsu leader Debajit Napha stated that the Assam government needs to declare Chandubi as a sanctuary; if it is not possible, then recognize it as a bird sanctuary for the protection of the wetland.
The Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) near Loharghat is a collective effort between the Bombay Natural History Society and Assam’s Forest Department. This programme was celebrated in the Kamrup district in the presence of students, their parents, local birdwatchers, teachers, and forest officers.
During the event, five people—Prasanna Kalita, Sahida Bibi, Ranjit Nath, Renu Nath, and Mallika Gogoi—were felicitated for their remarkable services in vulture conservation.
