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{{short description|Environmental activist group from Northeast India}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Nature's Beckon
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| logo_caption = The original logo of Nature's Beckon depicting a 'Golden Languar'
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| founder = Soumyadeep Datta
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| type = Non-profit Organization
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| status = Active
| purpose = Conservation
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| headquarters = Dhubri, Assam, India
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| origins =
| region = North East India
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| methods = Multi-structural activism, holistic conservation, youth training, education, research
| fields = Environmental activism, anthropology, research, lobbying
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| language = Assamese, English, Hindi, Bengali, Bodo, Rabha, Goalparia, etc.
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| leader_title = Director
| leader_name = Soumyadeep Datta
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| website = http://naturesbeckon.org/
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| footnotes = Mission Statement: The mission of Nature's Beckon is working with the people to conserve, protect and increase wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the people of India.
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'''Nature’s Beckon''' is an independent environmental activist group of Northeast India<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=http://naturesbeckon.org/about-us|access-date=2020-09-07|website=Nature's Beckon|language=en-US}}</ref> which initiated the environmental movement of Assam.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rakesh Soud {{!}} Changemakers|url=https://www.changemakers.org/es/users/rakesh-soud|access-date=2020-09-07|website=www.changemakers.org}}</ref> It has been doing some tremendous jobs in the arena of environmental concerns of the region from the 1980s till date.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

The organization was established by Ashoka Fellow Soumyadeep Datta<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Ashoka-Soumyadeep Datta|url=https://www.ashoka.org/en-in/fellow/soumyadeep-datta|website=Ashoka International Website}}</ref> in the year 1982.<ref name=":2">{{cite thesis|last=Bhattacharjee|first=Jhimli|year=2009|type=Ph.D thesis|title=Environmental activism in North East India: exploring environmental movements and action groups with special reference to Assam|chapter=4|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/10603/13466/11/11_chapter%204.pdf}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite book|title=Kaziranga National Park|publisher=Banalata|year=2018|isbn=978-93-82056-68-3|pages=195}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name="Taking poachers by Horns">{{Cite web|title=Taking poachers by Horns|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2016/jul/09/Taking-poachers-by-Horns-879064.html|access-date=2020-09-07|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> The organization has been doing vital works in the field of conservation of wildlife, awareness creation, environmental education, scientific research and documentation and socio-economic development of the forest fringe villages.<ref name=":0" /> In 1991, the organization formally registered under societies Registration Act.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}Nature’s Beckon is deeply involved in protecting the wildlife as well as their habitats. The organization believes in holistic [[habitat conservation]] of biodiversity-rich areas through multi structural activism.<ref name="Taking poachers by Horns"/><ref name=":0" /> The organization is credited by the discovery of the golden languar (''Presbytis geei'') in the hill reserves of Chakrashila.<ref name=":13">{{Cite news|year=1994|title=Status Survey of Endangered Species-Report 1|work=Zoological Survey of India}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Activities and Achievements|url=http://naturesbeckon.org/activities-and-achievements|access-date=2020-09-07|website=Nature's Beckon|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|date=2017-09-23|title=Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary|url=https://wildtrails.in/chakrashila-wildlife-sanctuary/|access-date=2020-09-07|website=WildTrails Recent Sightings {{!}} The One-Stop Destination for all your Wildlife Travels|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=A few valuable letters, messages and other documents|url=http://naturesbeckon.org/letters-and-messages|access-date=2020-09-07|website=Nature's Beckon|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news|last=Ghosh|first=Tapan|date=January–March 1993|title=Golden Discovery|work=WWF-India Quarterly}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite journal|last=Datta|first=Soumyadeep|date=April–June 1998|title=A report on the discovery of Golden Languar at Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuay and its Conservation|journal=Tigerpaper|volume=25| issue = 2|pages=23–26}}</ref> Apart from that, the organization spearheaded the conservation movements of Assam such as the Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary Movement and the Rain forest Conservation Movement of Assam.The organization's activism has been instrumental for declaring important habitats of Wildlife and biodiversity as a protected area (Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Park) such as the Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary and Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|title=Golden Langur|url=http://kokrajhar.gov.in/glangur.html|access-date=2020-09-07|website=kokrajhar.gov.in}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite book|title=Communities and Conservation:Natural Resource Management in South and Central Asia|publisher=Sage Publications|year=1998|isbn=0-7619-9279-0|location=California, New Delhi, London|pages=425–434}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite book|title=Rainforests of Assam|publisher=Nature's Beckon|year=2013|isbn=978-93-82624-71-4}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Valuable Letters and Documents regarding Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary and Rainforest Conservation Movement of Assam|url=http://naturesbeckon.org/valuable-letters-and-documents-regarding-dehing-patkai-wildlife-sanctuary-and-rainforest-conservation-movement-of-assam|access-date=2020-09-07|website=Nature's Beckon|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Datta|first=Soumyadeep Datta|date=December 15, 2003|title=Feral Instinct|work=India Today}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite book|last=Wolvekamp|first=Paul|title=Forests for the Future: Local Strategies for Forest Protection,Economic Welfare and Social Justice|publisher=Zed Books Ltd.|year=1999|isbn=1 85649 756 9|location=New York, London|pages=58–65}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Datta|first=Soumyadeep|date=July 1996|title=Battling to Protect the Environment|journal=Participation and Governence.|volume=3| issue = 7|pages=3–7|via=Society for Participatory Research in Asia)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Panorama|first=Eastern|title=Dehing Patkai Wild Life Sanctuary|url=http://easternpanorama.in/index.php/component/content/article/87-2012/february3/1811-dehing-patkai-wild-life-sanctuary|access-date=2020-09-07|website=Eastern Panorama|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary - Visit Rain Forests in Assam, Jeypore Reserve, Festival|url=http://onlinesivasagar.com/tourism/dehing-patkai-wildlife-sanctuary.php|access-date=2020-09-07|website=onlinesivasagar.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-11-21|agency=Press Trust of India|title=Concerted effort for conservation of rainforests urged|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Concerted-effort-for-conservation-of-rainforests-urged/articleshow/26158457.cms|access-date=2020-09-07|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Nature's Beckon North East India - Activities and Achievements|url=https://sites.google.com/view/naturesbeckon/activities-and-achievements|access-date=2020-09-07|publisher=Google|language=en-US}}</ref> Awareness programs are undertaken by the organization to impart environmental education to students, environmental activists, educators, NGO members, forest field workers and common villagers. With its dedicated members and expertise and by using its network with grassroots NGOs, voluntary organizations, individuals and academicians, Nature’s Beckon works to conserve wildlife and rain forests of Northeast India.<ref name=":0" />

== Formation ==

Nature's Beckon, in the beginning was started as a Nature Club by Soumyadeep Datta at a very young age in 1982, which involved mainly young enthusiasts and local youths. Led by him, the organization at first went on nature-trails and bird-watching expeditions in the Dhubri Forests. Some senior nature lovers like Kamal Narayan Choudhury provided guidance and helped them expand their activities.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":11">{{Cite journal|date=August 2007|title=Visionaire Extraordinaire Soumyadeep Datta|journal=the eclectic-A global Magazine|volume=August 2007|pages=20–27}}</ref>

== Logo ==
The logo of Nature's Beckon represents the golden languar (''Presbytis geei''), a species Nature's Beckon first discovered in the hill forests of Chakrashila of Assam at a very age by the members of the NGO and worked for its conservation.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":11" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" />

== Objectives ==

* Preservation of Forests and Wildlife through people’s participation
* Afforestation and conservation of biodiversity of the hot-spot areas along with the cultivation of traditional food plants of forest villagers
* Rain forest Conservation of North-East India
* To create environmental awareness among the people in general
* To impart environmental education to students and youths for developing trained manpower for conservation work
* To spread the philosophy associated with conservation
* To work for social justice.<ref name=":0" />

== Mission Statement ==
“The mission of Nature’s Beckon is working with the people to conserve, protect and increase wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the people of India.”<ref name=":0" />

== Activities and Achievements ==

=== 1. Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary Movement and Conservation of Golden Languar ===

Nature's Beckon took up a 12 year long conservation movement, through people's participation for the declaration of the Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, making it a major success story in the conservationist movement of Assam.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":12" /><ref name=":10" /> The organization after discovering the presence of Golden Languar<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary {{!}} Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary Kokrajhar {{!}} Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary Assam {{!}} Golden Langur in Assam|url=http://www.assaminfo.com/tourist-places/38/chakrashila-wildlife-sanctuary.htm|access-date=2020-09-08|website=www.assaminfo.com}}</ref> in the hill reserves of Chakrashila worked for its protection by a movement in the grassroot level which involved local people, sensitization, awareness, surveys and research, lobbying and other forms of activism of various levels.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":6" />

=== 2. Rainforest Conservation Movement of Assam and the Declaration of Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary ===
Nature's Beckon rediscovered and highlighted the presence of contiguous rain forests in the Dibrugarh-Tinsukia districts of Upper Assam and undertook a movement for the legal protection of a 500 sq.km of contiguous rainforest. This movement started with baseline surveys of the region by the organization and activism of various forms at multistructural levels. This is the most famous conservation movement in the region and was in fact the first ever rainforest movement in Assam.<ref name=":2" /> The conservation movement taken by Nature's Beckon forced the state government in 13 June 2004 to declare 111.19 sq.km of rainforest as 'Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.' This was another and a major success story in the conservation history of India.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sharma|first=Novanita|title=Dehing Patkai: A survivor once again|work=The Hill Times|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/14Ckout5DxcP5wHNfuBYPaoMcqE7M8_BM/view?fbclid=IwAR2gE3wq7P-L7m4BN8DIiBTGsUI9DAVdJS45rFh7DsHZLTAI16n72cMdNvg}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":14" />

This achievement of the group involved almost a decade long struggle (1995–2004) of the activists associated with it. However, the group considered this achievement only as the partial fulfillment of its objectives and claims that the connected rain forests area of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia district are occupying around 500 sq km, which constitute the only surviving largest in separate‘ forest areas of the Brahmaputra valley.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} The organization still demands and works for the area extension of the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, saying that the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary should constitute the entire contiguous rain forest.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dehing-Patkai national park should include entire Amazon of the East: Conservationists, activists {{!}} Headlines|url=https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/1130529-dehing-patkai-national-park-should-include-entire-amazon-of-the-east-conservationists-activists|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Devdiscourse|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":14" /><ref name=":2" />
[[File:NB-Protest Against Premier OIL.jpg|thumb|Nature's Beckon staging a demonstration. In 2003, UK based Premier Oil was permitted by the forest department to explore oil in the interior of the rainforests. It was later shut down due to the activism of Nature's Beckon{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}]]
[[File:NB Street Play.jpg|center|thumb|Nature's Beckon staging a street play during the rainforest conservation movement of Assam.]]

=== 3. Curbing of Wildlife Crime and Biodiversity Conservation ===

Nature's Beckon works for the curbing of wildlife crime by working as a pressure group, through environmental activism and rescue.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-08-22|title=Environment conservation group seeks CBI probe into ‘fake’ rhino horns|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/environment-conservation-group-seeks-cbi-probe-into-fake-rhino-horns-2990694/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2010-10-01|title=NGO counters Assam claim of rise in tiger numbers|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/NGO-counters-Assam-claim-of-rise-in-tiger-numbers/article15767620.ece|access-date=2020-09-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name="telegraphindia.com">{{Cite web|title=NGO questions Assam's tiger claim - If the count is up then tourists should spot them, argues activist|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/ngo-questions-assam-s-tiger-claim-if-the-count-is-up-then-tourists-should-spot-them-argues-activist/cid/476684|access-date=2020-09-09|website=The Telegraph|location=Kolkota}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Seoul Times|url=https://theseoultimes.com/ST/?url=/ST/db/read.php?idx=11237&PHPSESSID=f0cdd86586d85f7db9f7b078954cdc66|access-date=2020-09-09|website=theseoultimes.com}}</ref>

=== 4. Holistic Conservation of Biodiversity rich areas ===
Nature's Beckon works for the holistic conservation of biodiversity rich areas such as Poba,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Assam told to take steps to declare Poba wildlife sanctuary|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/assam-told-to-take-steps-to-declare-poba-wildlife-sanctuary/1642025|access-date=2020-09-09|website=outlookindia.com}}</ref><ref name="telegraphindia.com"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Demand for ‘wildlife sanctuary’ status for Poba forest gets PMO attention|url=https://nenow.in/environment/demand-for-wildlife-sanctuary-status-for-poba-forest-gets-pmo-attention.html|access-date=2020-09-09|website=Northeast Now|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Eco camp in Pobitora wildlife sanctuary to create awareness on ecotourism|url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/assam-eco-tourism-camp-pobitora-wildlife-sanctuary-create-awareness-issue.html|access-date=2020-09-09|website=Northeast Now|language=en-US}}</ref> Chakrashila, and Dehing Patkai.

=== 5. Youth Training, Capacity building and Awareness and research ===
[[File:Nature's Beckon School Children.jpg|thumb|170x170px|Nature's Beckon conducting an awareness programme in school]]
Nature's Beckon since its inception has been training and mobilizing youths to work towards conservation and research, through various methods.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Keeping the main aim as conservation, Nature's Beckon focuses on eco-tourism, children awareness training and building up a social change among the common masses.<ref name=":3" /> Awareness is created by the NGO through various clubs, materials and publications.<ref name=":3" />

[[File:Nature's Beckon Camp Kaziranga.jpg|thumb|Members of Nature's Beckon in a Camp in Kaziranga|alt=|center]]

== External links ==
* [http://naturesbeckon.org/ Nature's Beckon Website]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Organisations based in Assam]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1982]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Assam]]

Nature's Beckon - Revision history

imported>CommonsDelinker: Removing S.Datta_Great_Horned_Owl_Chakrashila.jpg; it has been deleted from Commons by JuTa because: Source of derivative work not specified since 1 August 2021.