ZIRO, Aug 22: Local conservationists, youth leaders, and community groups gathered at the Hill Top Forest Rest House in Hapoli near here to come up with an ambitious roadmap for the upcoming Bird & Butterfly Festival 2026.
Chaired by Tilling Taker, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Hapoli Forest Division, the stakeholders’ meeting kicked off collaborative preparations for the event, which is set to anchor the region’s Wildlife Week celebrations during the first week of October.
Beyond hosting a seasonal celebration, the organisers are shaping the festival into a lasting platform for sustainable eco-tourism and grassroots conservation across the Lower Subansiri district. Discussions focused on turning the region’s natural wealth into a source of local pride and economic opportunity. By highlighting local bird species, butterflies, and the fragile ecosystems of the nearby Talley Wildlife Sanctuary, the festival aims to show how community livelihoods and wildlife protection can genuinely reinforce one another.
Reflecting on the strong turnout, the DFO shared his appreciation for the genuine enthusiasm and insightful feedback brought to the table by local leaders and NGOs. He noted that their willingness to pitch in has given the forest division full confidence to aim for a national-standard event. For Taker, the meeting was proof that when local communities take the driver’s seat, conservation naturally becomes a shared movement rather than a top-down directive.
The groundswell of support spans almost every corner of the Ziro Valley, uniting government offices, student groups, and passionate local hobby clubs.
Key participants included representatives from the Hapoli Forest Division, District Art & Cultural Officer, District Information and Public Relations Officer, District Tourism Officer, Apatani Youth Association, All Lower Subansiri Students’ Union, and All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union. They were joined by a vibrant mix of grassroots organisations, including the Ziro Birding Club, and Ziro Tourism Organisation, among others. (DIPRO)