UKHRUL: Environmental Force at Grass Root Level (ENFOGAL), a Ukhrul-based grassroots environmental organisation, has received the State-Level Wildlife Protection Incentive Award 2026 for its conservation efforts in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts of Manipur.
The award was presented during the grand finale of the 72nd Wildlife Week Celebration 2026, organised by the Forest Department, Government of Manipur, at the City Convention Centre in Imphal on Wednesday.
The event was held under the theme “Connecting Habitat, Thriving Wildlife”. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla attended as the chief guest, while deputy chief minister Losii Dikho, who holds the portfolios of forests, environment and climate change, and public health engineering, presided over the function. Anurag Bajpai, principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force, was also present.
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For nearly a decade, ENFOGAL has been working on grassroots conservation through wildlife monitoring, habitat protection, biodiversity documentation and environmental awareness. It works with village authorities, youth groups, local communities, the Ukhrul Forest Department and conservation partners to strengthen community participation in wildlife protection.
A key focus of the organisation is the conservation of Mrs Hume’s pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae), locally known as Nongin, the state bird of Manipur. Its efforts include community engagement, camera-trap monitoring, biodiversity documentation and awareness programmes to protect the species and its forest habitat.
ENFOGAL is also involved in community-led conservation of the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) in Manipur, with support from GreenHub × Royal Enfield through its conservation grant initiative. The project focuses on raising awareness about pangolins, strengthening local conservation leadership and mobilising communities to protect the species from hunting and illegal wildlife trafficking.
The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is another key conservation partner, supporting ENFOGAL’s work on Mrs Hume’s pheasant and other wildlife conservation initiatives. The collaboration supports wildlife monitoring, community engagement and biodiversity protection in the region.
Through camera-trap monitoring and biodiversity documentation, ENFOGAL has also recorded several important wildlife species, including Blyth’s tragopan and other birds and mammals inhabiting the forests of Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
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The organisation’s conservation approach emphasises the role of customary institutions, traditional ecological knowledge and community participation in protecting forests and wildlife. By working with village authorities, youth volunteers, local guides and community conservation groups, it seeks to establish long-term conservation practices rooted in local leadership and collective responsibility.
The award recognises the efforts of ENFOGAL’s members, field teams and community partners in protecting Manipur’s biodiversity. The organisation said it would continue to strengthen community-led conservation, protect threatened species and their habitats, and expand grassroots participation in biodiversity protection across Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
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