In a landmark event highlighting global South-South cooperation in conservation, Assam-based wildlife biologist and UNEP Champion of the Earth Dr. Purnima Devi Barman led a transformative training program for Cambodian women conservationists and park rangers at the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, part of Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve.
Organized by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Cambodia, the day-long session sought to adapt Assam’s celebrated Hargila Army model — a women-led conservation movement that has successfully safeguarded the endangered Greater Adjutant Stork (locally known as Hargila) in India — to the local context of Cambodia.
The training brought together 20 Cambodian women, including rangers and community members, to explore strategies that blend ecological science with cultural heritage and traditional knowledge. Through engaging sessions led by Dr. Barman, participants developed community-based conservation plans tailored to the socio-ecological dynamics of the Prek Toal wetlands.
A key feature of the program was the unveiling of educational posters illustrating the behavioral ethogram of the Greater Adjutant, designed by Dr. Barman and released by local stakeholders. These materials aim to bolster grassroots awareness about the species and promote coexistence between local communities and wetland wildlife.
The training included innovative and interactive elements:
- Leadership exercises mapping women’s roles and strengths in conservation
- Cultural integration activities linking local traditions to environmental values
- A “textile hunt” to explore nature in fabrics and folk expressions
- A “web of life” game to highlight biodiversity interdependence
- A collective pledge ceremony, reaffirming the group’s commitment to environmental stewardship
“This is not just about saving a species,” said Dr. Barman, who is also a senior biologist at Assam-based NGO Aaranyak. “It’s about empowering communities — especially women — to become guardians of nature by weaving conservation into the fabric of their culture and daily lives. The energy and resolve of the women of Prek Toal deeply moved me.”
The event marked the formation of a new global alliance, the Sisters and Brothers of Storks — a network that will collaborate with the Hargila Army to promote conservation of the Greater Adjutant and other stork species globally, with an emphasis on inclusive, community-based efforts.
Mr. Phearun Sun, WCS Tonle Sap Landscape Program Manager, praised the initiative as a milestone in building local conservation capacity. “The Hargila Army’s behavior change model is a powerful example of what community-driven conservation can achieve. We are excited about future collaborations between Assam and the Tonle Sap region.”
