CLP alumnus Ahirbudhyhnan M’s journey into conservation began in childhood, rescuing fallen bird chicks from his backyard and releasing them back into the wild. “This early connection with nature evolved into a dedicated career path rooted in my Master’s degree in Wildlife Biology,” said Ahir.
Ahir in the field © Ahirbudhyhnan M
Currently a Research Assistant at Indian NGO, Nature Conservation Foundation, he helps manage a hornbill conservation initiative run in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu State Forest Department. In this role, he protects hornbill nesting trees and habitats outside protected areas, while promoting community-led conservation efforts anchored in ecological research.
This work expands on a similar project he started in 2024, supported by a CLP Future Conservationist Award, focused on the conservation of the Malabar grey hornbill (a cavity-nesting, vulnerable and endemic species of the Western Ghats, India). During this project, Ahir spearheaded participatory conservation among local communities in Wayanad district, Kerala – engaging estate owners, workers, and students in nest monitoring, habitat protection, and awareness campaigns.
The Malabar grey hornbill is a threatened species endemic to the Western Ghats of India © Ahirbudhyhnan M
“This approach strengthened community ownership but also fostered long-term stewardship of hornbill habitats,” said Ahir.
Watch the video to learn more about Ahir’s CLP project:
Ahir’s work lies at the intersection of science, community engagement, and on-the-ground conservation, including mapping hornbill nesting sites (tree cavities) and associated habitats. He has already mapped 36 new nesting sites and, as hornbills reuse the same tree cavities in subsequent seasons, protecting such sites is paramount for the species’ conservation.
To do this, he is “actively engaging local communities, including farmers, plantation workers, tribal families, school students, and women-led groups in hornbill conservation, and established community conservation groups in liaison with local leaders.”
These 300+ citizen scientists are now reporting hunting incidents, identifying and documenting hornbill nesting sites, and actively advocating for hornbill conservation among their friends and neighbours.
The strong local support he’s galvanised is reflected in a tribal elder’s recent remark: “We hunted this bird long ago. Now we understand its importance, and we will protect it by any means.”
Ahir interviewing a local community member © Ahirbudhyhnan M
He has also delivered two training sessions for Forest Department staff, covering density estimation methods and the recording of nest tree characteristics. “Now, roughly one in three staff members can identify all four Western Ghats hornbill species, and have started logging hornbill sightings on eBird (which feeds into opportunistic occurrence data collection) and reporting new nest sites both inside and outside protected areas,” said Ahir.
Importantly, hunting and nest poaching were not previously considered major threats to hornbills in Wayanad, but Ahir’s field investigations and local leaders’ reports are now showing they are emerging and significant threats. Due to these new insights, Ahir is incorporating anti-poaching measures and training local leaders to monitor nesting sites during the breeding season.
Ahir (middle) as a participant at CLP’s Conservation Management & Leadership workshop in Rwanda (October 2024) © Tharushi Pitigala
Ahir is also conducting community-level Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice surveys, from which preliminary results from 32 surveys so far show that most stakeholders cannot correctly identify the species and are unaware of hornbill nesting characteristics and requirements. They also show that misconceptions are common in Kerala.
Ahir is using these findings to design posters and presentations for raising awareness among stakeholders and local communities. He has already developed bilingual (English-Malayalam) outreach materials, such as posters and infographics, distributing over 100 printed posters and circulated digital versions through WhatsApp and Instagram, inviting community members to report hornbill sightings and nesting sites.
A female Malabar grey hornbill entering the nest cavity © Ahirbudhyhnan M
Although the project is still in its early phase, the growing participation of local communities reflects Ahir’s success in building a strong foundation for long-term, locally anchored conservation action. By combining ecological research with inclusive outreach, Ahir aims to foster a conservation ethic that empowers people to become protectors of hornbills and their habitats.
Help us nurture future conservation leaders
The CLP partnership supports emerging leaders like Ahir to drive positive changes for people and nature around the world. Through our annual Future Conservationist Awards, we not only offer project funding but also specialised leadership training and ongoing professional development opportunities. If you would like to help us continue developing the next generation of conservation leaders and shape the future of conservation, support us directly or write to us at clp@birdlife.org.