Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 23
The Tizu Valley Biodiversity and Livelihood Network won the India Biodiversity Award 2018 in the category of ‘Sustainable Use of Biological Resources (Institution) on special Mention Award’ conferred by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and presented by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in association with the United Nations Development Programme in Hyderabad on May 22. There were nine winners and 14 special mentions spread across four categories.
With the initiative of TERI-The Energy and Resource Centre, Tizu Valley Biodiversity and Livelihood Network comprising of three villages namely Sukhai, Ghukhuyi and Kivikhu under Zunheboto District have been working to strengthen community conservation. This includes creating and linking Community-Conserved Areas (CCAs) across the landscape to reduce fragmentation and ensure landscape connectivity and awareness creation and capacity building.
According to resources made available in the nagalandcca.org, TERI provides training in identification of birds, butterflies and moths and enables the communities to document their own biodiversity. “With support from outside experts, TERI has been developing bird and butterfly tourism in these biodiversity-rich forests. Funding support for two years for these activities is provided by the GEF-Satoyama project via Conservation-International Japan,” it informed.
Mention may be made here during the celebration of ‘Wildlife Week 2017’, the citizens of Kivikhu, a village under Satakha Circle of Zunheboto District, carried out a novel initiative. They deposited their assorted ‘hunting guns’ at the village church during the Sunday devotional service on October 8. Their objective was protecting and preserving biodiversity. It was agreed that the guns will be initially kept in the custody of the church for a period of three months.
Ivan Zhimomi, team leader of Tizu Valley Biodiversity and Livelihood Network, in a press release expressed appreciation to the National Biodiversity Authority, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Nagaland, District Forest Officer DFO Zunheboto, Gef-Satoyama Initiatives (CI) Japan, Energy Resources Institute TERI and TITLI Trust and especially the TERI for recommending the network for the award. It also acknowledged the stake holders of three villages for cooperation and supports.
