Campaign stresses importance of biodiversity conservation in Nagaland
Participants with officials during the awareness campaign jointly organized by the Nagaland Forest Department, Nagaland State Biodiversity Board and the Wildlife Conservation Society-India at the Forest Resource Centre, Jalukie on February 12.
Peren, February 15 (MExN): An awareness campaign was jointly organized by the Nagaland Forest Department, Nagaland State Biodiversity Board and the Wildlife Conservation Society-India at the Forest Resource Centre, Jalukie on February 12.
The campaign was held for ‘Conservation of Forest and Wildlife to Mitigate Human Animal Conflict and Wildlife Crime, Biodiversity/Nature Conservation & Constitution of Community Reserve and Biodiversity Management Committee.’
Around 200 participants - students from LM Higher Secondary School, Frontline staff from the Forest Department, forest fringe communities from villages- Old Jalukie, Jalukie B, Samziuram Dekwaram, Jalukiekam, Tesen, Liekeram, Jalukielo, Nkwareu, New Jalukie, Mbaulwa, Ntu attended the awareness campaign.
The programme began with invocation prayer by Irai Zeliang, Forest Range officer, Ahthibung, stated a press release from DFO, Peren Forest Division, Jalukie.
M Obed Zeliang, IFS, DFO, Peren Division, Jalukie chaired the programme who gave a brief background of community conservation area in the district. He emphasized on the need of conservation of natural resources for sustainable supply of resources for future generation.
Special guest, Dr Tinojongshi Chang, ADC, Jalukie appealed to the communities and village councils to constitute committee in the village for protection of forest and wildlife.
The ADC highlighted an example of protecting a deer stag in Noksen Village, 20 years back which has resulted in increase of population numbering around 200 at present.
Special invitee, CR Zeliang, President, Zeliangrong Baudi laid emphasis on financial assistance from the government to the communities to ban burning which destroys a lot of biodiversity.
Satya PrakashTripathi, PCCF & Chief Wildlife Warden and HoFF, Nagaland (Retired) and Chairman, State Biodiversity Board in his key note address, described the importance of Forest & Wildlife.
“Human beings cannot survive without forest and wildlife. But, forest and wildlife can survive without human beings,” Tripathi maintained.
He highlighted the legal position of Community Reserve and Biodiversity Management Committee and appealed the community to come forward for its constitution.
He deliberated on conservation, sustainable utilization and equitable distribution of biodiversity and its related benefits.
Samriddha Ghosh, Programme Assistant in Project Management Team in WCS India spoke about conservation efforts by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India.
Pradipty Bhardwaj, an Environmental Lawyer for WCS India, introduced to the participants about wildlife crimes and gave an overview about The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Major Amit Pathak from Assam Rifles, Ahthibung/Jalukie spoke on importance of conservation of Natural resources.
Interaction and feedbacks between the participants and forest officials were also exchanged, which was followed by a pledge to promote conservation and preservation of forest and wildlife in the State.
