Jalukie, April 1 (MExN): The jury team of India Biodiversity Award 2014, comprising imminent experts in the field of biodiversity, visited Old Jalukie Community Biodiversity Reserve on March 31. The team was accompanied by Samuel Changkija, IFS, and Dr. N. Senthil Kumar, IFS, a press release informed.
The Jalukie Community Biodiversity Reserve was declared in the year 1986 covering an area of 308 hectares to conserve and protect the almost destroyed biodiversity forest with three key objectives: To preserve watershed area of major rivers that sustains the population and agriculture of Jalukie valley; To provide safe haven for escaping wildlife that converge here for survival; and To insure food security and sustainability through management of forest resources.
Following the initiative taken by the community, the forest department and the Old Jalukie village signed an MoU under the initiative of the then DFO, Peren Samuel Changkija (IFS) and witnessed by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Peren Khrieno on June 15, 2012.
During the inspection, the team was ushered to photo exhibition, subsidized LPG connection to village community, evaluation of files and records of the Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) Old Jalukie, and later interacted with the village community, students’ leaders, village elders, women and youth organization of the village, and the community forest guards, the note added.
The team also inspected the community nursery centre and the community biodiversity reserve area.
Earlier, the team was warmly welcomed by JFMC Old Jalukie, Village Council Chairman, Jalukie Pumling Nko (Apex Organization of Old Jalukie), Jalukie Pumling Mipui Organization (Women Organization), Jalukie Pumling Youth Organization and Forest Chairman, Jalukie Students Union Forest Reserve.
