A total of 70 Assistant Conservator of Forest trainees from Central Academy for the State Forest Services, Dehradun recently visited Nagaland.
Kohima, October 16 (MExN): In a first of its kind, a total of 70 Assistant Conservator of Forest trainees from Central Academy for the State Forest Services (CASFOS), Dehradun belonging to the states of Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura and Odisha visited Nagaland.
During the visit, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force, Nagaland, Dharmendra Prakash IFS engaged with the trainees on October 14.
Dharmendra emphasised the unique situation where land in Nagaland primarily belongs to the people, constitutionally protected, and the essential role of community participation in maintaining around three fourth geographical area under vegetation cover of which only around 5% of the forest area lies with the government and rest are privately and community owned.
The Principal Chief Conservator advocated the preservation of customary knowledge and practices, encouraging collaboration rather than adopting irrelevant models from elsewhere.
He advised the trainees to continuously update their knowledge even after completion of the training to adapt to the changing environment and advancement in the forest and wildlife management practices. He urged the trainees to share their enrichment of knowledge and experiences with others, when they reach back, highlighting Nagaland's rich biodiversity, culture, cuisine, and security for visitors.
The other officials during the interaction were Senthil kumar IFS, Hemant Kamdi IFS, Zuthunglo Ezung IFS, Chisayi IFS, and Sevono ACF.
On October 12, trainees from the 36th batch accompanied by Pradeepchandra Wahule IFS and Beulamathi IFS, embarked on a trek to the Dzukou Valley, guided by expert taxonomists and Kohima Forest Division staff. Despite prior exposure to Himalayan states and the Western Ghats, the Dzukou Valley provided a uniquely breathtaking experience, described as ‘beautiful beyond comparison.’
Their subsequent visit to Wokha on October 13 involved interactions with AFRAU, Pangti Village Council, Old Aree Village Council, and staff from Wokha Forest Division and Doyang Plantation Division. Discussions revolved around the decade-long conservation journey of the Amur falcon, emphasising community-based conservation. The trainees also explored the roosting area and the Doyang Hydroelectricity Project. The trainees also discovered ‘Freshly Wokha,’ a brand of high-quality local products produced in collaboration with the forest department.
“This important interaction deepened appreciation for Nagaland’s natural heritage and its dedication to sustainable forest management. CASFOS promised to bring the subsequent batches of trainees to Nagaland for experiencing such a distinct cultural and learning unique way of forest management,” Kamdi Hemant Bhaskar, IFS, Conservator of Forests, Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Nagaland stated in an update.
