Peren, June 21 (MExN): Forest Department, Nagaland organised its human-animal (wildlife) conflict mitigation awareness campaign in the council hall of Tening village in Peren district on June 19 with sponsorship of the MoEF&CC, GoI. Around 250 persons, officers from the district administration, agri and allied departments, chairmen/members of councils of villages affected with human-animal conflict in Peren district attended the programme.
K. Caroline Angami, IFS, Wildlife Warden, Dimapur gave a brief background of the existing problem in the State. Heuneilung, DCF, Intanki National Park, gave a brief introduction of participants.
DK Zeliang, retired PCCF & Principal Secretary (Forest Department), Nagaland and chief guest of the programme deliberated on constitutional provision of Article 371(A) in the matter of land and its resources for the people of the State. “They are owner/ proprietor of land and forests. The State Government of Nagaland and the Government of India can play role of facilitator,” he said, informed a press release from Satya Prakash Tripathi, Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland.
Zeliang emphasised on the need to declare Community Conservation Areas to Community Reserves and its funding on the pattern of government owned protected areas. He briefly stated how local people hunted deer by constructing Machang. He appealed to the villagers to ban fishing using poison and hunting instead prepare action plan for plantation of fruit trees for wild animals so that wildlife can be protected and conserved. He further stated that purchased land owned by the government should be converted into protected areas, sanctuaries for integrated development of wildlife habitats.
Holohon Yepthomi, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tening and guest of honour lauded the Forest department for organising the programme involving communities affected with human-animal conflict. He asked the communities to think causes for an action before doing it, while emphasising the need for justification of an action. He stated that the communities have more to play for conservation of forest resources and appealed for conservation of forest and wildlife.
Satya Prakash Tripathi, Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland, in his keynote address stated the genesis of the human-animal conflict prevalent in the State. He highlighted the policies of the State Government and the MoEF&CC, GoI, New Delhi for addressing the problem. He appealed to the people for protection of forest and wildlife and contact forest officials immediately in case of damage of their crop/ properties/ human life.
The release informed that the chairmen/members of the village councils made a resolution to ban fishing and hunting in their respective areas.
.JPG)
