Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has called for a sensitive approach to resolving forest-related issues, stressing the need to respect tribal rights and traditions.
Speaking at a meeting of the State Board for Wildlife, Khandu highlighted that conservation must balance ecology with community welfare. “The forest department must work with sensitivity, remembering that tribal communities have called these lands home for generations,” he said in a post on X.
Balancing Conservation and Community Rights
Khandu underlined that protecting forests and protecting people are equally important. “When we honour both, we build a future that is sustainable, just, and rooted in respect,” he remarked during the meeting.
The discussion also reviewed strategies to strengthen wildlife conservation with cultural sensitivity at the core of forest policies.
Community-Led Biodiversity Strategy
The state government has adopted a community-driven approach to environmental protection through the State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (SBSAP) 2025-2035. The plan empowers districts, indigenous groups, and communities to actively participate in conservation, aligning localised actions with national biodiversity goals.
