New Delhi, May 26 -- A 28-year-old man in Rajasthan joins the battle to save the Great Indian Bustard, which is on the verge of extinction. He digs water troughs, so smaller animals in the desert don't die of thirst in summer. He tends to injured vultures. Protecting animals and birds is his life. It is also the legacy he's inherited as a Bishnoi. Then, while chasing poachers two days ago, he dies in a road accident along with three others. Thousands of nature lovers across the country process this tragedy. A few contribute to his family, whose income is modest. Several people who flock to forests, grasslands and deserts can enjoy these because someone else, like Radheshyam Bishnoi who died on Saturday, has put in efforts -- physical and emotional -- to conserve ecosystems. These include local environmental leaders, villagers, forest guards and a range of other state actors. Many local environmentalists lose income and job opportunities because they choose to devote themselves to unpaid or underpaid task of nurturing the planet. They don't seek jobs in cities because their hearts are anchored in the local ecosystem. If we are to draw one learning frsom the short but powerful life of Bishnoi, it is that communities of nature photographers, birders, visitors to protected areas, and the ecotourism industry must all support those who have put in everything to protect wildlife because we benefit significantly from their efforts. From reasonable stipends to assignments to investing in their skilling, we need a robust package to protect those who protect what we value. Nothing less is fair....