Nature and Wildlife Conservation

Protection of national and environmental resources as well as the wild life has been a major pre occupation for us. From its inception HNAF is relentlessly fighting and working for conservation of Nature & Wildlife by conducting/organizing & participating in various Census, Survey, Workshop, Seminars, advocated for eco-tourism and guide training etc. Apart from census we continuously tried to aware people against poaching and conservation of forest resources with the programmes such as showing movies and documentaries to the village people, introducing short courses for NGO’s on how to rescue wild animals and health plan for wild animals etc. jointly with the Dept. of Forest, Govt. of West Bengal. Again year long project has been taken by HNAF with the Central Bodies to spread awareness among the school children between 10 to 14 years for conservation.  Whenever indiscriminate urbanization has taken its toll on the quality of human and wild life, HNAF raised its voice against all odds to the eco-system of this region.

Osteichthyes  Survey (Fish Survey) – HNAF conducted and completed first ever Fish Survey in Buxa Tiger Reserve, Jaldapara National Park and Gorumara National Park with the Support from Department of Forest , Govt. Of West Bengal and has published a book, which is acclaimed nationally.

Clean & Green Singalila National Park: For the last 15 years HNAF is organizing programme for cleaning and plantation enroute to Sandakpu (3636mts) highest place of West Bengal and a Biodiversity Hotspot of India to clean up the non-biodegradable garbage strewn indiscriminately in long and widening hilly terrain, leading up to the chilling tray of the Eastern Himalayas. The proposal to clean Singalila Sinchula range was propounded by HNAF along with some other likeminded organizations on July 2002. Incidentally our effort coincided with the ongoing United Nations initiative: 2002 which has been declared as the International Year of the Mountains. A long term plan has been taken to create awareness among the masses about the pollution caused by the trekkers and tourists which was gradually destroying the exhilarating beauty of Himalayas. The first ever cleaning program was done by HNAF in the same year. Apart from cleaning, awareness, group discussion interactive programmes, distribution of pamphlets and various publicity materials have also been done each year. We have participated and supported IMF9East Zone in cleaning Sandakfu to Phalut region in 2019.

Annual Waterfowl Count: HNAF for the last 28 years conducts the Annual Water Fowl Count as a part of Asian Water Bird Census at major ten water bodies namely, Fulbari (Mahananda Barrage, Dist Darjeeling), Gajoldoba (Tista Barrage, Dist Jalpaiguri), Rashik Bill (Dist. Coach Bihar),  Narartholi Bill (Buxa Tiger Reserve, Dist. Alipurduar), Gosaihat Wet Land (Jalpaiguri), Domohoni Bill (Jalpaiguri), Teesta-Korola Confluence ( Jalpaiguri), Gorumara National Park (Jalpaiguri), Jaldapara National Park (Alipurduar), Noukabihar (Jalpaiguri). Asian Water Bird Census is an international program that focuses on monitoring the status of water birds and wetlands. It also aims to increase the public awareness on issues related to wetland and water bird conservation. In India AWC is jointly coordinated by the Bombay Natural History Society and wetlands International; and the state level by AWC state coordinators. Apart from census HNAF also aims to increase public awareness on issues related to wetland and water bird conservation.  

Animal and Bird Census: We have a deep rooted commitment towards nature and natural resources or wild life which has inspired us to conduct to survey of wild life and bird census in different wild life sanctuaries in association with the Forest Department, Govt. Of West Bengal as an accredited agent of the concerned field of the Central Govt. HNAF also provided resource person to the Govt. Departments for wild life conservation. Census has been conducted in different areas covering Singalila National Park, Gorumara National Park, Chapramari National Park, Neora Valley National Park and Buxa Tiger Reserve.

Trekking Route Survey:  Several new trek routes were opened and explored by HNAF for future trekkers. The information about the beauty and serenity of the surroundings unravel the marvels of nature on the one hand and the unique ecology and exclusive Himalayan flora and fauna on the other. The expert team of our members explored a new route from Bakhim to Chamre (West Sikkim) and a pass at the foothills of Mt. Narsim (2001). Recently on 2018, HNAF was entrusted with the responsibility to explore new trekking routes, collect and produce a data base for five different trekking routes by Dept. of Forest, Govt. of West Bengal. The programme covered Singalila National Park, Senchal Wild Life Sanctuary, Mahananda Wild Life Sanctuary, Neora Valley National Park and Buxa Tiger Reserve. The teams submitted a detailed report of the remote hilly areas and villages, their ethnicity, food habits, life style, social life and potential adventure camping and tourism opportunities.

 Vulture Conservation: HNAF is working on Vulture conservation since long. The lack of awareness among people in rural areas on the use of drug on their animals became one of the prime reasons for the vultures to vanish, as they are fed on the flesh of cattle. Programmes and awareness camps on vulture conservation has been done to bring back the balance in ecosystem .We conducted joint programme with The Animal Resources Development Department on February 2014 on the use of veterinary drugs on the cattle and again with Bombay Nature History Society on February 2019 on vulture conservation and breeding centre nationwide and safe zone environment study.

Butterfly Watching Camp:  The life cycle of a butterfly is noticeably fascinating. The progression from egg to larva and from chrysalis to adult attracts the attention of the researchers, students, photographers and nature lovers at the same time.  The first butterfly watching camp was organized by HNAF on May 2015 to step into the incredible world of these magnificent creatures.