HYDERABAD, OCT 10:
Community-led biodiversity conservation initiatives in Arunachal Pradesh featured at the 17th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP 2026), which concluded at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad on Saturday.
Gumjum Haider from Arunachal Pradesh highlighted the role of Indigenous knowledge and community participation in conservation, presenting the Singchung Bugun Village Community Reserve, established through the efforts of the Bugun community to protect the habitat of the rare and endangered Bugun liocichla. He also discussed community engagement in hornbill conservation in the landscape surrounding Pakke Tiger Reserve.
His presentation brought perspectives from Northeast India to the international conference, underscoring how local stewardship can complement scientific research and government conservation initiatives.
Held from October 4 to 9, the conference brought together scientists, policymakers, environmental experts, representatives of international organisations and young researchers from 26 countries to discuss mercury pollution and its effects on human health and ecosystems, as well as ways to translate scientific findings into effective environmental policies.
The conference featured participation from the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO’s participation in its official capacity was described as a first in the conference’s history.
Monika Stankiewicz, Executive Secretary of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, engaged with participants on the relationship between scientific research and international environmental governance, while Eisaku Toda of the Convention Secretariat contributed to scientific and policy discussions.
Representatives from Minamata, Japan, including a person affected by Minamata disease, shared experiences that highlighted the human consequences of mercury pollution. The conference also featured scientific journal editors Rob Mason, Patricia Forbes, Bryan Brooks and Greg Lowry.
During the valedictory programme, conference chairs Dr Jagannath Biswakarma of the University of Bristol, United Kingdom, and Professor Asif Qureshi of IIT Hyderabad emphasised the importance of international scientific cooperation and translating research into practical environmental solutions.
The conference also highlighted the role of students and early-career researchers in strengthening future scientific research and environmental policymaking.
For Arunachal Pradesh, the presentation highlighted the relevance of community participation in protecting biodiversity and managing ecosystems. While mercury pollution and biodiversity conservation involve distinct challenges, both require credible scientific evidence, institutional cooperation and meaningful engagement with local communities.
The conference concluded with a call for stronger international collaboration, scientific capacity-building and the translation of research into action to protect human health and the environment.
