Peren, June 11 (MExN): In a positive step towards conservation of forest and wildlife, ten villages from Northern Zeme area under Peren district have come together under the banner of 'Northern Zeme Forest Conservation Forum' to collectively preserve the flora and fauna of the foothill of Mount Pauna. The ten villages are Lamhai, Dungki, Ndunglwa, Peletkie, Deukwaram, Heningkunglwa, Ngwalwa, Punglwa, Gaili, and Gaili Namdi.
A meeting of the Forum was held on June 11 at Ngwalwa Village to review the progress of the implementation of total prohibition of hunting and fishing, which was adopted last year at Dungki village on July 23.
Held under the initiative of Kelei Zeliang, Secretary to the Government of Nagaland and attended by leaders of the villages concerned, the meeting reaffirmed the resolutions adopted previous year, informed a press release from the Forum’s Working Committee convenor, Haibamko and secretary, Ipeihangbe.
Kelei Zeliang, Hiazu Meru, Deputy Secretary (Finance) and other government officers also spoke in the meeting and encouraged the leaders to seriously take up the conservation effort.
The meeting also adopted new resolutions, wherein three villages – Pedi, Benreu and Heunambe – were requested to join the Forum as “conservation will directly or indirectly affect these villages.” The meeting also constituted a Working Committee with Haibamko as convener, Ipeihangbe as secretary and two members from each village as executive members.
Meanwhile, the house deliberated on the adverse effects of logging in the reserved area and recommended total ban on logging, which the village councils will discuss in their respective villages before the next meeting of the Forum. The meeting concluded with closing remark by Kelei Zeliang.
