In the semi-arid grasslands of Chotila, leopards, striped hyaenas, and wolves share space with pastoralists and their livestock. Through our project Predators and Pastoralists: Conflict Dynamics in Grasslands of Surendranagar, supported by The Habitat Trust Seed Grant, we are working to reduce livestock depredation and build coexistence. This includes documenting interaction patterns, engaging communities in conservation science, and designing a community-based action plan.

Our project Beyond Protected Areas: Biodiversity Conservation in Surendranagar’s Commons, supported by the Prakriti Research Fellowship, established a biodiversity baseline while strengthening community participation in conservation. By recognizing the stewardship role of Maldhari pastoralists, we aim to build local leadership in grassland conservation and ensure their voices shape land-use policies.

The program focuses on strengthening conservation efforts for two of India’s most threatened grassland species: the Indian Grey Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) and the Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indicus). Centered in Chotila, this effort works to restore and safeguard critical habitats, reduce human-wildlife conflict, and integrate community stewardship in species protection. By combining ecological research with local knowledge, the program aims to secure viable populations of wolves and floricans while fostering sustainable coexistence between people and wildlife in shared landscapes.

Through Pastoral Legacies: Digitizing Maldhari Heritage and Ecological Wisdom (supported by NCBS), we are documenting decades-old knowledge systems that have historically sustained grassland ecosystems, yet remained neglected from Conservation science. By bringing Maldhari wisdom into contemporary conservation, we seek to revalue and restore open natural ecosystems (ONEs) as living landscapes where pastoralism and wildlife coexist.

In Lahaul’s high-altitude landscapes, agrarian and pastoral communities share space with species like the Himalayan brown bear and snow leopard. Building on previous research, we are working with communities to better understand these interactions and develop mitigation strategies that support both biodiversity and livelihoods. (The Himalayan brown bear photograph featured here was taken by Mr. Shiv Kumar, Lahaul Forest Division.)

Our approach in Lahaul is grounded in community leadership. By partnering with local champions such as Sapna Khando, who combines cultural knowledge with ecological awareness, we are building inclusive conservation initiatives. This work is designed to give resident people agency in shaping stewardship of their land and biodiversity.

Lahaul’s trans-Himalayan ecosystems provide critical habitats for wide-ranging carnivores and alpine fauna, as well as threatened medicinal plants such as Aconitum heterophyllum (Atis), Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki), and Dactylorhiza hatagirea (Salampanja). By integrating ecological data with local observations, our goal is to contribute to recovery strategies for species threatened by climate change, habitat fragmentation, and negative interactions with human activity.

In collaboration with the Lahaul Forest Division, we are contributing to an eco-tourism development plan that integrates restoration of fragile ecosystems with sustainable livelihoods. Our long-term vision is to rewild degraded areas while supporting ecologically sensitive tourism models.

India is home to ancient archaeological sites - some protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and others unprotected. Both types of sites host diverse biodiversity. Our team is interested in documenting this biodiversity with the objective to enhance education at protected archaeological sites and seek legal protection for non-protected sites. Currently, we are doing this with our limited funds and small team. We are seeking collaborations in the form of funding, equipment and human resources. If this is something that interests you, please reach out to us.

Conservation indica was established to elevate traditional ecological knowledge and democratize conservation research.  To bridge the esearcher-subject divide and to eliminate the epistemic hegemony,  the  young pastoralists have embarked on a journey of documenting their nature and culture. Please reach out to us to know more if interested. We are seeking funds and tech support for this idea.