Altogether 35 forest guards from 10 Forest Division in Nagaland attended the second batch ‘training of forest guard for the conservation of Hoolock Gibbon in Nagaland’. Field study was carried out at Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam.
Dimapur, February 26 (MExN): The second batch ‘training of forest guard for the conservation of Hoolock Gibbon in Nagaland’ concluded on February 26. Altogether 35 forest guards from 10 Forest Division including Dimapur, Kohima, Kiphire, Mokokchung, Longleng, Peren, Phek, Wokha and Zunheboto attended the weeklong residential training from February 21.
The training was conducted by Aaranyak- A Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in collaboration with Nagaland Forest Department with support from US Fish & Wildlife Service. A field study was carried out at Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, stated a press release issued by the organizers.
The training held at State Environment and Forestry Training Institute (SEFTI), Dimapur was inaugurated by M Shakiba Yimchunger, IFS, Director of SEFTI, Dimapur. Addressing the the forest guards trainee from different parts of Nagaland, he said that this type of training is first of its kind in Nagaland, which will help them to built their capacity for the conservation of biodiversity. “This type of training is not found in the different forest school or the forest institute,” he said.
Dr Dilip Chetry, Head, Primate Research & Conservation Initiatives, Aaranyak requested to make use of this training to enhance their knowledge of conservation of Hoolock gibbon in particular and biodiversity in general. He said that the situation of Hoolock Gibbon in Nagaland is alarming and its need the support from all quarters to survive.
Obed B Swu, Deputy director, SEFTI also requested the trainees to learn and interact with different resource persons in a disciple way as being forest officers.
During the training, Dr IC Baruah, Assam Agricultural University, Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, Dr Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, Dr Firoz Ahmed, Dr Jimmy Borah, Arup Kumar Das, Jayanta Kumar Pathak and Dr Dilip Chetry, Aaranyak, Mridy Paban Phukan from Wildlife Conservation & Study Centre, and Ajoy Kumar Das, Aaranyak & Guwahati High Court were the trainers.
On February 26, the convocation was held under the chairmanship of M Shakiba Yimchunger, IFS, Director, SEFTI with T Aochuba, IFS, Director, Intanki National Park as the special guests. Aochuba expressed hope that this training will boost the capacity of the trainee in the conservation of Hoolock Gibbon in particular and biodiversity in general. He also requested Aaranyak to help the forest department in Biodiversity conservation of Nagaland by capacity building of the forest staff as well as community and local youth. He later distributed certificates, books, posters and other study material to the trainees.
Dr Dilip Chetry, Vice President, Aaranyak, thanked the Government of Nagaland especially Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change for giving the permission and other logistic for conducting the training.
The next batch of training will be from April 18 to 23.
