Abstract

In India there is no formal framework for community-based protection of freshwater ecosystems, unlike in some South-east Asian countries, such as Laos and Myanmar, where community co-managed models of freshwater fish conservation have been successfully implemented. Driven by the need to protect fish and their habitat from exploitative practices, in January 2021 the Khengjang and Yangoulen village councils in Manipur and the Lapalang village council in Meghalaya declared conservation zones in stretches of the river adjoining their villages.