Dibang Valley Must Be Saved from Destruction — Act Now!

The proposal for the Etalin Hydro-Electric Project (3097 MW) in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley (RO/Ministry File Number F. No. 8-20/2014-FC), was placed for approval before the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) on the 23rd of April, 2020. Reports state that 2.7 lakh forest trees will be felled in the process. Long-term research in Dibang Valley (including areas which will see impacts of the proposed hydro-project) show that the region is crucial habitat for many Schedule I endangered species, including a genetically distinct population of tigers.

If you would like to urge the FAC to save Dibang Valley, please add your signature to the letter below (content at the end of this article), requesting that the FAC reject the proposal. All signatures collected will be collated and sent as part of a Conservation India memo to FAC members viz. Additional Director General of Forests (Forest Conservation – adgfc-mef@nic.in), Directory General of Forests (dgfindia@nic.in), Inspector General of Forests (Forest Conservation – igfc-mef@nic.in), Dr. Kaushal Rajesh (kaushalrajesh1@rediffmail.com) and Shri. Suramya Vora (suramya.vora@gmail.com).

This campaign is now closed for signatures. Over 4600 people supported the campaign. Thank you for your interest and support.

You can visit this page for ongoing updates on this issue.

Dibang Valley, in Arunachal Pradesh, forms part of the Eastern Himalaya Global Biodiversity Hotspot, one of the 36 such global biodiversity hotspots across the world that contain 60% of the planet’s faunal diversity. Research reveals a unique relationship between tigers and Dibang’s Idu Mishmi people that helps protects their forests.

See a gallery of the spectacular biodiversity of the Dibang Valley below.

In addition to tigers, the greater region of Dibang Valley harbours more than 75 species of mammals including Clouded leopard, Asiatic Golden Cat, Asiatic Wild Dog, Red Panda, Mishmi Takin, Red Goral, and Gongshan Muntjac.

Rapid bird assessments in the region have estimated upwards of 300 species, including rare, endemic and endangered species such as the Blyth’s Tragopan, Sclater’s Monal, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Ward’s Trogon, Hodgson’s Frogmouth, Beautiful Nuthatch, Wedge-billed Babbler and the recently discovered Mishmi Wren-babbler. 43 species of amphibians have been recently recorded from the area, many of which are new discoveries.

The project will remove over 2.7 lakh trees from dense tropical forest, which cannot be compensated through afforestation.

There is consensus amongst scientists that the rise in zoonotic diseases (such as COVID-19) and acceleration of climate change is linked to biodiversity and forest destruction.

Letter to the Forest Advisory Committee members

Sub: Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley Must Be Saved from Destruction

The proposal for the Etalin Hydro-Electric Project (3097 MW) in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley (RO/Ministry File Number F. No. 8-20/2014-FC), was placed for approval before the Forest Advisory Committee on the 23rd of April, 2020. Long-term research in Dibang Valley (including areas which will see impacts of the proposed hydro-project) show that the region is a very important habitat for many Schedule I endangered species, including a genetically distinct population of tigers, 75 species of other mammals and over 300 species of birds.

The proposed hydro-electric project is, in my opinion, detrimental to India’s biodiversity and ecological security, and therefore I respectfully request that the FAC reject it.

Yours truly,

the undersigned

While there are multiple local viewpoints about the dams in Dibang valley, this campaign simply seeks to highlight the loss of exceptional biodiversity that could result from the construction of the dam.

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Hoolock Gibbons are Schedule-I species (highly endemic subspecies) and the Idus ensure it's not hunted.
A young male tiger camera trapped just north of the dam site.
he Idu believe that tigers are their blood-brothers and do not kill them.
A male tiger caught just south of the dam site.
A large male spray marking its mountainous territory.
The marbled cat is another Schedule-I cat species found in Dibang.
Clouded leopards are Schedule-I species, this was south of the dam site.
A golden morph of the secretive Asiatic golden cat from south of the dam site.
Dibang is known for colour variations of the Schedule-I Asiatic golden cat.
A newly identified ‘tightly-rosetted’ morph of the Asiatic golden cat.
Leopard cats are the smallest of the 5 wild cat in Dibang Valley.
Melanistic morph of Asiatic golden cat, south of the dam site.
Elusive clouded leopards are found across the landscape.
A gray morph of the Asiatic golden cat. 6 colour morphs of the species golden cats are recorded here.
A gray morph of the Asiatic golden cat.
The Mishmi takin is not only a Schedule-I species, but a globally range restricted species.
A herd of Mishmi takin grazing the highlands of Dibang Valley.
The rare Gongshan muntjac, primarily found in China is found in Dibang Valley.
The Himalayan serow is another Schedule-I species found in Dibang.
An unidentified goat-antelope from Mishmi.
Indian muntjac occurs throughout Dibang Valley.
Mishmi Wren-Babbler (Endemic and vulnerable).
The endangered Himalayan Monal is a Schedule-I species.
Black-eared Shrike Babbler.
Black-throated Parrotbill.
Streak-throated Barwing
Gould's Shortwing.
Black-breasted Parrotbill (endemic).
Bengal Florican (endangered).
Jerdon's Babbler (endemic).
Long-billed Wren-Babbler.
Marsh Babbler (endemic).
Purple Cochoa.
Great Hornbill (endangered).
Black-faced Warbler.
Khalij Pheasant.
Yellow-billed Blue Magpie.
A snow covered river landscape in Dibang Valley.
Dense old growth trees are abundant across the landscape.
The lush Dibang landscape.
A mountain lake in Dibang Valley, which undergo seasonal transformation.
The Idus believe that the spirit of the high mountains dwells in lakes.
Dense old growth trees are abundant across the landscape.
The stunning Dibang Valley.
The lush Dibang landscape.
Colourful lakes dot the high mountains of Dibang Valley.