World Environment Day: CM urges Nagaland to contribute its share

KOHIMA, JUNE 4 (MExN): On the eve of World Environment Day, Nagaland State Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio called upon all people to come together and reverse the trend of environmental damage in order to keep Nagaland clean and green and “contribute our share to the global effort for environmental protection.”

In a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, Rio pointed that Nagaland had banned the use of single use plastics from December 1, 2018 in response to the Government of India’s call for single-use plastic free India by 2022 and last year’s World Environment Day theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. 

“We still have a long way to go but with concerted efforts from all stakeholders, we are ensuring that single-use plastics are eradicated,” he said. The CM added that the State Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, on May 22 inaugurated the first plastic-free nursery in Kohima which uses cloth bags instead of plastic pouches to raise saplings. 

The department is working extensively to provide more forest / green cover to the State under various programmes and schemes like the National Afforestation Programme (NAP), Nagaland Forest Management Project assisted by JICA, and Biodiversity and Community Conserved Area Management, an Indo-German Financial Cooperation project financed by KfW, Germany, he added.

Climate change as a result of human inflicted damages to the environment is a very real issue which requires the concerted efforts of the people of all nations, the CM stated, adding that the State of Nagaland is “proud to be part of this global movement.” 

“Every Nation or State, no matter how large or small in population and size has its own role to play,” he added.
 
Reach out to local communities: Forest Minister

Minister of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, CM Chang meanwhile called upon his department to reach out to local communities towards conserving the environment.  

The Minister was speaking after launching the ‘State of Environment Report for Nagaland’ in Kohima on June 4. This year, the Minister stated that all senior officers of the headquarters have been allotted districts to ensure that World Environment Day 2019 is celebrated in a befitting manner. 

“More than 7000 public are expected to participate in World Environment Day Celebration. Plantation and Social Work will be primary components of the celebration. In addition, about 300000 tree saplings have been arranged for free-of-cost distribution to the public,” he informed.

“As custodians and guardians of forest, environment and wildlife, all of us in the department should do our duty well. As a department, we don’t have much land. So we should always reach out to the local village community for conservation of environment. We cannot allow our forests to because forests are our natural heritage and as a tribal, our identity will be lost when we lose our forests,” the Minister stated.

He meanwhile pointed out that the department has a lot of potential to increase revenue collection and it should be a collective effort to make this department self-sufficient. Under the Nagaland Forest Management Project, plantation activities will be undertaken in 14000 ha across 32 villages. These project sites will be mapped using GPS and latest GIS technology for transparency. The Government has also made a rule that no cash payment will be done for works above Rs 10,000.

The Minister meanwhile thanked village communities who have formed community reserves, adding that the PDA Government has increased community reserves in the state from 15 to 93 covering an area of 674.2257 sq km. 

He further reiterated the government’s commitment towards the ‘Make in Nagaland’ vision by encouraging manufacturing sector in the forestry sector. “This will boost the primary GDP and generate thousands of employment from the Jhum-fields till the shops,” he said.