Guarding the Khasi Holly: An Assam Conservationist’s Mission to Save a Rare Tree
High in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya grows a tree that carries millions of years of evolutionary history: the Khasi Holly (Ilex khasiana). Towering up to 20 meters, evergreen and graceful, this species is not just rare; it is one of the world’s most evolutionarily distinct plants. Yet today, it is on the edge of extinction. Classified as Critically Endangered for more than two decades, the Khasi Holly’s population has been shrinking fast due to habitat loss, deforestation, and human pressure.Despite its status, scientific knowledge about the species remains surprisingly scarce. Its distribution is poorly mapped, its population trends largely unknown, and the full scale of threats it faces under-studied. Into this gap steps Raktima Basumatary, a young conservationist from Assam, who has dedicated herself to giving this species a fighting chance.A Daughter of the Northeast Takes ChargeRaktima Basumatary is not new to the forests of India’s Northeast. A forestry postgraduate from NERIST (North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology), she has spent years working in the region’s fragile ecosystems. Her previous assignments include monitoring Asian elephants in the Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong landscape and assessing forest carbon stocks in Assam. But her latest mission is deeply personal. With her EDGE of Existence Fellowship from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), she is leading a project titled “Conserving Ilex khasiana in East Khasi Hills: A Study on Distribution, Threats and Community Awareness.” Her goal is simple yet urgent: to find out where the Khasi Holly still survives, understand what threatens it, and bring local people into the heart of saving it.The Khasi Holly: Medicine, Tradition, and IdentityThe Khasi Holly is not just a tree; it is woven into the cultural and medicinal traditions of the Northeast. In Khasi traditions, extracts from the plant are used as antibacterial agents in treating tuberculosis and as antiviral remedies for cold and fever. In Mizo medicine, the leaves are believed to cure bacterial and parasitic infections, blood diseases, and even cancer. This cultural significance makes conservation even more crucial. Losing the Khasi Holly would mean not only erasing a rare evolutionary lineage but also cutting off a living thread that connects communities to their ancestral knowledge and healing practices. Although endemic to Meghalaya’s Khasi Hills, small populations have also been documented in parts of Aizawl, Mizoram. Yet the survival of these last remaining stands is under constant threat from logging, land-use change, and neglect.Science Meets Community: A New Model of ConservationRaktima’s approach is refreshing in its simplicity and power. She believes conservation cannot succeed without people. Her two-year project focuses on:Mapping the distribution of Khasi Holly in Meghalaya and Mizoram.Reassessing its conservation status and providing updated data for global red lists.Identifying threat hotspots, such as areas vulnerable to deforestation or overharvesting.Community engagement, including workshops, awareness campaigns, and partnerships with schools, forest departments, and local leaders.By giving local people ownership of the conservation process, she is building a long-term safety net for the tree—one rooted in pride and tradition, not just scientific data. The Khasi Holly has found a changemaker in Raktima thanks to the EDGE of Existence Programme, run by ZSL in collaboration with Kew Gardens. EDGE stands for Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered, and the initiative identifies species that are both unique in their evolutionary history and at extreme risk of extinction. Through her fellowship, Raktima is receiving not just funding but also training, mentorship, and access to a global peer network of early-career conservationists tackling similar challenges around the world. Her work is supported by Fondation Segré and Fondation Franklinia, international organizations committed to biodiversity conservation.Walking the Forests, Listening to the PeopleRaktima spends much of her time in the forests, searching for the last remaining stands of Khasi Holly. With notebook and camera in hand, she documents its distribution and listens carefully to the stories of local communities. For villagers, the tree is not just a plant but part of their lived reality, a source of healing, tradition, and connection to the land. This blend of science and empathy is what makes her mission stand out. She is not just protecting a tree; she is protecting a cultural bridge between people and nature.Lessons from the Khasi HollyThe fight to save Ilex khasiana carries lessons far beyond the Khasi Hills:Urgency matters: Waiting too long can mean losing species forever.Communities are key: Conservation must respect and involve local traditions.Science needs stories: Data is essential, but human connection ensures long-term success.Every species counts: Even a little-known tree can carry millions of years of evolutionary history.A Tree, A People, A FutureThe Khasi Holly may not have the fame of the tiger or the elephant, but its survival is no less important. It represents resilience, tradition, and the delicate balance of life in the Khasi Hills. Thanks to the efforts of Assam’s own Raktima Basumatary, this critically endangered species has a chance to step back from the dark. Her work is a reminder that conservation is not just about protecting plants and animals; it is about protecting identity, memory, and the future we share with them. In the story of the Khasi Holly, we find not just the tale of a rare tree but a lesson for humanity: when people and nature come together, even the most fragile lives can endure.
