French Ambassador Explores Nameri National Park and Conservation Efforts

Visit to Nameri National Park

Guwahati, Nov 3: Thierry Mathou, the French Ambassador to India, visited Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve on Sunday as part of his official tour to review the ongoing projects under the Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC) Phase-II, which is supported by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

Accompanying the Ambassador were Lise Breuil, Country Director of AFD in New Delhi, Thierry Morel, the Consul General of France in Kolkata, Samuel Bouchard, Charge de Mission – Influence et Cooperation, and Anurag Singh, APCCF and Project Director of APFBC Phase-II.

During his visit, Mathou engaged with Piraisoodan B, the Divisional Forest Officer and Field Director of Nameri Tiger Reserve, along with other officials. The Field Director provided an in-depth presentation on various initiatives undertaken as part of the APFBC Phase-II Project, emphasizing habitat restoration, wetland rejuvenation, eco-tourism, and the conservation of the white-winged wood duck.

The Ambassador also met with members of the eco-development committees in the buffer zones of Nameri Tiger Reserve, acknowledging their vital contributions to community-based conservation and the promotion of eco-tourism.

To experience the park's rich biodiversity, he participated in a Gypsy safari within the reserve. He expressed his admiration for the conservation efforts, particularly those aimed at protecting the white-winged wood duck, Assam's state bird, and the establishment of the Nameri Eco-Camp at Hatigate, which successfully merges local community welfare with nature-focused tourism.

The visit wrapped up with a visit to the Nameri Eco-Camp at Hatigate, where the Ambassador and his guests enjoyed an ethnic lunch prepared by the community-run eco-camp management.