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Site-based conservation involves long-term work, often over
a decade or more, to build up the necessary local constituencies. By their very
nature such activities can only be undertaken by Indian nationals.
Moreover, even if powerful local advocacy groups are nurtured, without a solid underpinning
of good science, they do not function effectively. Therefore, establishing and evaluating
'working models' of science driven, site based conservation efforts are a part of
WCS India program's mandate.
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WCS supported
projects for site based conservation education and outreach at regional and national
level have been implemented since 1993. Another set of policy initiatives - legal
and social interventions - are not implemented directly by WCS. However, WCS insights,
data and conservation vision guide our conservation partners in these processes.
Therefore, WCS India program effectively
meshes gears with local partners who interact with the political and social power
structure: officials, politicians, media, religious leaders, and other advocacy
groups, promoting various interests. WCS
contributes to site-based conservation through support for committed local partners
who share its ecological world-view within the existing framework of Indian laws.
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WCS India program envisions its
site-based conservation efforts as creative experiments in model building at the
spatial scale of reserves and surrounding landscapes.
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