Wokha, January 21 (MExN): Amur Falcon Conservation Monolith stone was unveiled in Pangti on January 20 by M Lokeswara Rao, PCCF & Hoff in presence of the Chairman Village Council, convenor and members Amur Falcon conservation, Pangti, village elders, Church leaders, students, NGOs etc.
Six feet stone with inscriptions and images of different awards has been unveiled near the Amur Falcon roosting site on the roadside at scenic location in Pangti, Wokha.
Speaking on the occasion M. Lokeswara Rao IFS, PCCF & HoFF, Kohima said that it is historic day for Nagaland. The monolith of conservation of Amur falcon will become monument in future reveals the story of efforts of Pangti people’s conservation of wildlife from generation to generation.
The big conservation moment started in Nagaland with the conservation of Amur Falcon by Pangti village communities and conservation movement has spread all over Nagaland and communities are now committed to preserve the rich biodiversity of Nagaland
“I am also proud to be part of this conservation effort of the communities and the world has recognised and patted the communities for the conservation efforts. This conservation movement should continue and Forest department has committed to protect and conserve the rich biodiversity of Nagaland with the help of communities,” Rao said.
He also informed the Pangti will have been nominated for India Biodiversity Award 2016.
Ronchamo Shitri, Chairman Village Council Zhankhamo Jami Convenor convenor and members Amur Falcon conservation also spoke on the occasion.
This was stated in a press release issued by Temjen, CF (Publicity) office of PCCF & HoFF, Kohima.
Inscription on the Monolith
"WE ERECT THIS MONOLITH TO COMMEMORATE THE DECLARATION OF PANGTI OF NAGALAND AS FALCON CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. The migratory bird Amur falcons were first spotted roosting in Pangti in the year 2001 in flock of thousands. In the subsequent years the flock increased into massive numbers.
Owning to lack of awareness for conservation of Wildlife, the villagers’ hunters by tradition started hunting the birds for delicacies. In the year 2006 the hunters started using net for trapping the birds on commercial scale for sustenance.
The massive killing of Falcons was brought to fore in 2012 through the efforts of conservation India and its associates, the Nagaland Wildlife& Biodiversity Trust.
Following exposure of the random killing of Falcons in October 2012, Awareness campaign for protection & conservation of the migratory bird started on war footing in 2013 by State Forest & Wildlife Department and various NGOS namely , The Natural Nagas, the Wildlife Trust of India, the Nagaland Wildlife & Biodiversity Trust, BNHS etc involving entire community village councils, churches etc.
Responding to awareness campaign of State Forest & Wildlife Department & various NGOs, the village council together with the entire community resolved to protect & conserve the migratory bird Amur Falcons and prohibited killing of Falcons in any form... …WE, THE HUNTERS TURN PROTECTORS PLEDGE TO REMAIN OURSELVES COMMITTED AS PROTECTIONISTS &CONSERVATIONISTS ALONG WITH REST OF THE WORLD.”
