India is a country of extraordinary diversity, the second largest in Asia and the second most populous country on Earth. Stretching for some 3,000 km from 8°N to 35°N, India is subject to a variety of climatic conditions. India contains a great wealth of biological diversity in its forests, its wetlands and in its marine areas. In figures, about 350 species of Mammals, 1224 species of Birds, 408 species of Reptiles, about 200 species of Amphibians, 2546 species of Fishes and 15,000 species of flowering plants.

A majority of this wildlife in India exists outside Protected Areas and sharing the resources with the biomass-dependent village communities and their livestock makes it more vulnerable to extinction than its protected counterparts. While the threatening issues such as habitat loss, over-grazing, fire, hydrological changes, over-exploitation, introduced species, etc. are almost universal, widespread and increasing loss of biodiversity is beginning to have adverse affects on the health of the ecosystems and also the local communities.

While the focus for conservation of biodiversity so far has been mostly on ‘Hotspots’ and ‘Protected Areas’, efforts initiated outside these areas are not enough either to meet the challenges or mitigate the losses. However, the wealth of knowledge that local communities have about various species and their natural history could be of great value for conservation at a local level, for these people have alsobeen witnesses to ecological changes over a period of time.