Mokokchung, July 27 (MExN): To increase the green cover across Asetkong range in Mokokchung, 'Greening Asetkong’ project was officially launched by Parliamentary Secretary for Geology and Mining Dr Imtiwapang Aier at Kobulong on July 26. The project is targeted for five years to plant and grow different variety of trees, including fruit and ornamental trees, around the whole range of Asetkong in phase wise, according to a press release.
The project was initiated to uphold the resolution passed during the 68th Asetkong Mungdang to protect the surrounding environment.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Imtiwapang lamented that in Nagaland one of the most common causes of environmental degradation is shifting cultivation. He further said that jungle burning is a common phenomenon worldwide and is a major threat to the forest and effort have been made to prevent further jungle burning in Nagaland.
The Parliamentary Secretary also encouraged the people to make the small range into a “pollution free zone” and bring the ecological imbalance into a “natural carbon free zone.”
July 26 was also adopted as ‘Greening Asetkong Day’ in Asetkong range for the next 5 years. Dr Imtiwapang also announced that for the three consecutive years, the best unit maintaining and nurturing the saplings planted under the project will be given awards accordingly.
He also requested the village councils to maintain the 1 km sq. forest conservation area in every village which was resolved during the Asetkong Mungdang. He expressed willingness to sponsor the saplings to be planted in empty pockets of the conserved area. He added that the best village in maintaining and nurturing the saplings planted in the conserved area will be given awards.
Around 2000 saplings sponsored by the Parliamentary Secretary were planted by volunteers around the range.
