Nagaland Forest Department urges all stake holders to work for protection of state’s wildlife
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 17 (MExN): The Nagaland State Forest Department today issued a general appeal for the protection and conservation of wildlife in the state.
A statement from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland, Satya Prakash Tripathi said that with passage of time and increasing population, biotic pressure on forests has significantly increased.
“The survival of human beings and animals, both directly as well as indirectly, depends on forests; as their basic needs in the form of food, water, and shelter are met from forests. In addition to these tangible benefits, forests play key role in carbon sequestration, amelioration of environment and climate change,” he added.
In the State of Nagaland, Tripathi mentioned that the lion’s shares (88.3%) of forests are under the control of individuals and communities and the remaining 11.7% of the forests are under the control of the Government.
The Government, it admitted has very limited regulatory role in management of private forests. “Since time immemorial, administration and people of the State had /have played an important role in protection and maintenance of forests in the form of Community Conservation Areas. Communities had/have bigger role to play as compared to the Government for protection of forests and wildlife in the State,” he said.
The PCCF added that the existence of wildlife is a good indicator of good forests and subsequently availability of timber, firewood, medicinal plants for human beings. Stating that the state of Nagaland had traditionally been a hunting state since time immemorial, he noted that now, people are coming forward for protection of wildlife and they are rescuing wild animals and donating wild animals and birds which are kept in Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar and Tragopan Breeding Centre, Kohima.
With the efforts of the administration, people and different agencies of the Government, NGOs etc, Amur Flacons (Migratory Birds) were well protected in the State during their migration in 2013 and onwards, he reminded. “This brought laurels, both nationally and internationally, to the State and the world community recognized Nagaland as the capital of falcons. With getting protection in the State, both the number of Amur falcons coming/migrating to/from Nagaland as well as the number of their roosting sites in the State has significantly increased in subsequent years,” the PCCF added.
On behalf of the Forest Department, the PCCF appealed to the public, government officials, Village Councils, army and para military personnel, students, NGOs and other stakeholders for protection of wildlife.
He also made an appeal to the Village Councils to make resolution for banning hunting of wild animals throughout the years, instead of seasonal banning on hunting.
“Taking the importance of forests and wildlife in our life,” he pointed out that the Nagaland State Government had adopted the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The PCCF informed that in cases of observing any danger for human beings with the sighting of wild animals in human habitations, the Wildlife Warden, Dimapur can be contacted for tranquilizing the animal. Meanwhile, in cases of damage of crops/ killing of domestic animals by wild animals, the nearest forest/ administrative office may consulted.
He assured that the Wildlife Wing of the Nagaland Forest Department will try its best to make compensation against the damage on the recommendations of the assessment committee under the Chairmanship of the concerned Deputy Commissioner.
.JPG)
