8th Namdapha Butterfly Festival, 2025

1.Introduction

• The 8th Namdapha Butterfly Festival will be held from November 26 to 28, 2025, at Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve, located in Miao, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh.

• It is organised by the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, in collaboration with local community groups.

• The event celebrates biodiversity, eco-tourism, and community-led conservation in one of India’s richest ecological zones.

2. Objectives of the Festival

• Promote eco-tourism and sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.

• Raise awareness about biodiversity conservation and the ecological importance of the Namdapha landscape.

• Encourage community participation in conservation through education and cultural engagement.

• Create a platform for researchers, naturalists, and citizens to interact and share conservation knowledge.

3. Venue and Participation

• The event will be held at Khachang village, the gateway to Namdapha National Park, known for its scenic beauty and proximity to biodiversity hotspots.

• Entry is free for local participants, encouraging grassroots involvement and local stewardship of natural resources.

• The festival will include guided nature walks, photography contests, butterfly watching trails, exhibitions, and awareness programmes.

4. Namdapha National Park: A Global Biodiversity Hotspot

• Located in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, Namdapha is both a National Park and a Tiger Reserve.

• It covers an area of about 1,985 sq km and ranges from 200 m to over 4,500 m in altitude, representing diverse ecosystems from tropical rainforest to alpine vegetation.

• Recognised as one of the world’s most biodiverse reserves and a key part of the Eastern Himalayas biodiversity hotspot.

• Home to:

  • Over 500 species of butterflies

  • Rare butterflies such as Kaiser-i-Hind, Blue Mormon, Peacock Pansy, Zig-zag Flat, and Yellow Veined Lancer

  • Several rare and endangered fauna — including tigers, clouded leopards, red pandas, and hornbills.

5. Community Collaboration

• The 2025 festival is being jointly organised by:

  • Tikak Homestay Miao

  • Khachang-Mattungkhim Youth Forum

  • Namdapha Jungle Camp Miao

• These collaborations showcase community-led conservation and eco-tourism initiatives.

• Local youths and homestay owners act as eco-guides, demonstrating how livelihood generation and biodiversity preservation can go hand-in-hand.

6. Key Features of the Festival

• Butterfly trails inside the forest for spotting and identifying species.

• Educational exhibitions on biodiversity, forest ecology, and conservation methods.

• Workshops and talks by scientists, researchers, and conservationists.

• Cultural programmes celebrating local heritage and environmental harmony.

• Eco-tourism promotion, highlighting sustainable travel and local entrepreneurship.

7. Broader Significance

• Environmental Awareness: Reinforces the importance of conserving the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

• Community Empowerment: Encourages local ownership in conservation efforts.

• Tourism and Economy: Strengthens eco-tourism as a sustainable income source in Northeast India.

• Scientific Research: Provides opportunities for researchers to document and study lesser-known butterfly species and ecological patterns.

8. Exam-Oriented Facts

9. Conservation Message

• The festival serves as a reminder of the need to protect biodiversity amid increasing threats from climate change, deforestation, and habitat loss.

• Promotes eco-conscious tourism and aligns with India’s broader goals of sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

10. UPSC Relevance

Themes for GS Papers:

• GS Paper 3 (Environment & Ecology):

  • Biodiversity conservation

  • Community-based eco-tourism

  • Role of local communities in environmental governance

• GS Paper 1 (Geography):

  • Biodiversity hotspots of India

  • Eastern Himalayas ecology

• Essay / Ethics Paper:

  • Harmony between development and environment

  • Grassroots conservation efforts

In Essence:
The Namdapha Butterfly Festival embodies India’s vision of inclusive, community-led conservation, showcasing how biodiversity, culture, and sustainable livelihoods can coexist harmoniously in ecologically sensitive regio