Sustainable Livelihoods

To promote Sustainable Livelihoods, people centered programs are put in place to include local residents in planning and implementing of conservation actions. They are also locally known as Integrated Conservation Development Programs (ICDPs) defined as “projects that link biodiversity conservation in protected areas with local socio-economic development”.

Through ICDPs, negative impacts on the forest, water resources and wildlife can be reduced by providing alternative means of income generation and developing an understanding among the communities by way of education campaigns.
 
ICDPs are currently being implemented in many areas of Thrimshingla National Park, Royal Manas Park, and Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary.

ICDPs have certain key features:

• Sustainable natural resource management where the communities are taught to make the best use of resources- such as improved pastoral development; hybrid cattle;  hybrid agricultural seeds; and better irrigation facilities.
• Improving economic opportunities for the local people by investing in avenues that will bring additional income into the household- such as handicraft, tourism  skills etc
• Reducing fuel wood consumption by shifting to environment friendly cooking apparatus, roofing and fencing alternatives etc.
• Improving health and education facilities of the communities to ensure they become better guardians of forests and natural resources.
• Conducting awareness meetings among the local communities on benefits of conservation.