Ride for Conservation’ covers 460 km to rally public support for nature protection in Assam

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 5, 2025

In a bold and inspiring initiative to involve the public in nature conservation, Aaranyak—India’s premier biodiversity organisation—successfully conducted the second leg of its ‘Ride for Conservation’, a 460-km cycle rally spanning from Orang National Park to Raimona National Park. The event forms part of Aaranyak’s year-long celebration of its 35th anniversary and drew support from forest officials, students, teachers, and local communities along the route.

Flagged off on March 23 by Orang National Park Field Director Pradipta Baruah, the rally aimed to spark grassroots-level engagement in biodiversity preservation. The ride, which concluded on March 27, passed through multiple districts—Darrang, Udalguri, Tamulpur, Baksa, Bongaigaon, and Kokrajhar—with strategic halts at key locations for interactive awareness events.

The rally’s core team included dedicated cyclists Arif Hussain, Swapan Nath, Diganta Das, Akash Morang, Ritom Bora, Bishal Saikia, Shyam Orang, Bharat Saikia, Dibyajyoti Nath, and Sourabh Sarmah. Coordinated by Arif Hussain, a senior Aaranyak official, the rally was not just a physical journey, but a mission to bring communities closer to conservation goals.

“The idea was to promote the message that nature conservation is not just for experts—it’s for everyone,” said Hussain. “Through direct dialogue with communities, we’re trying to make conservation personal and actionable.”

Throughout their route, the cyclists engaged with a wide cross-section of stakeholders—from Paneri Forest Beat staff and local schoolteachers, to ABSU members, SSB officers, students, and eco-tourism operators.

In Paneri, the team discussed conservation with teachers and forest staff, while in Dimakuchi, the ABSU leadership expressed solidarity with the campaign. Students from Jartaluk Balika ME School and Abhayapuri College participated in interactive sessions and were encouraged to view themselves as future stewards of the environment.

A highlight of the rally was its integration with local institutions and enforcement agencies. In Baksa, the cyclists stopped at SSB bases in Bhuyanpara and Bansbari, where officials expressed appreciation for the awareness effort. Range Officers from Manas and Raimona National Parks also played key roles in welcoming and supporting the cyclists.

The closing ceremony at Raimona National Park’s Central Range (Kachugaon) featured students from Gossaigaon College, senior forest officials like Dr Paris Basumatary and Biswajit Basumatary, as well as members of the Raimona Golden Langur Eco-Tourism Society. The discussions centred on youth participation, community-led conservation, and eco-tourism opportunities.

Dr Dipankar Lahkar of Aaranyak emphasized the need for sustained people-driven efforts. “It’s only through shared responsibility that conservation goals can be truly met. This ride was a call to that shared responsibility,” he said.

With this rally, Aaranyak reaffirmed its mission of bridging the gap between policy, science, and public participation. As part of the 35th anniversary celebrations, more such initiatives are planned throughout the year, aimed at creating a culture of conservation that is local, inclusive, and lasting.