Objectives:

The major objective of the project is to provide economic incentives to the local communities to promote conservation. This will be achieved through:

1. Setting up of a Rhododendron arboretum in village Thembang, West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh with a dual objective conservation as well as revenue generation for the tribal community in the study area.
2. Preparation of a detailed plan for a Rhododendron interpretation Centre that can be attached to the arboretum in the near future
3. Training the interested local community members (with a focus on the local unemployed youth) to serve as a guide to the prospective visitors.
4. Advocacy with the State Government and department of tourism for developing the area as a potential ecotourism site.
5. Set up an processing centre for extraction of Rhododendron squashes and provide training for its marketing and sale.
6. Undertaking feasibility tests for introducing newer areas for income generation like up-scaling their skills on wooden mask making, bee keeping and setting up an hand made paper unit from Daphne and bee keeping, promotion of fodder crops.
7. Scale up the past efforts of DST in propagating fodder species now growing successfully in the location.