7Weaves launches the Centre for Ecological Economics and The Primate Conservation Project

“The forest is not a resource for us, it is life itself. It is the only place for us to live.” - Evaristo Nugkuag Ikanan

Marking the 152nd Birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchan Gandhi on 2nd October, 2021 7WEAVES officially launched the Centre for Ecological Economics and The Primate Conservation Initiative. 

Mahatma Gandhi’s ideal idea of a village was of self-governance and sustainability and he quoted - “My idea of village SWARAJ is that it is a complete republic, independent of its neighbors for its own vital wants, and yet interdependent for many others which dependence is a necessity”. 7Weaves is an organisation who brought this concept into light by incorporating each and every villager’s traditional ideals towards sustainable usage of natural resources. In this way the community creates a balance in nature and hence leads a sustainable living.

7Weaves Centre for Ecological Economics  

7Weaves CEE intends to establish and analyse the ecological and economic elements of the forest and the communities in the Loharghat and Thaiń Mawdem Forest Ranges in Assam and Meghalaya, respectively, falling under the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. The principal objective of which is to conserve the Primary forests of the aforementioned richly biodiverse ranges with the involvement of forest communities.

The Primate Conservation Initiative under CEE primarily focuses on protecting the Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), an endangered lesser ape found in India with the community involvement in the region. 

Assam alone accounts for more than 70% of India's Gibbon population. The Hoolock gibbon is an indicator species of a healthy forest ecosystem because it requires a contiguous forest canopy to thrive. Furthermore,  protecting the Hoolock Gibbon entails saving a variety of other species, so it also functions as an umbrella species. 

However, forest degradation, deforestation and habitat fragmentation are the greatest threats to the Hoolock Gibbon population, and the aforementioned Initiative is taken by the Organization to address these issues, conduct proper research and conserve the forests hand in hand with the community.

Besides, the forests also are the habitats for Bengal Slow Loris (Nycticebus bengalensis; IUCN Status: Endangered), Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta; IUCN Status: Least Concern),  Blond-bellied capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus pileatus; IUCN Status: Vulnerable), Northern pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca leonina; IUCN Status: Vulnerable) and Stump-tailed Macaque (Macaca arctoides; IUCN Status: Vulnerable) which are taken into consideration as well in the initiative.