Wokha, April 13 (MExN): Wokha Forest Development Agency organized a one day awareness seminar for Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMC) and Frontline Personnel of Wokha Forest Division on ‘National Afforestation Programme & Role of JFMCs’ at Forest Colony Community Hall, Wokha on April 13.
The programme was attended by over a hundred participants and saw enthusiastic participation from both the inquisitive villagers as well as the forest staff, stated a press release received here. The programme was chaired by the Dy. Ranger, Wokha Range, Janbemo Ezung, and started with invocation by Zurenthung Lotha, FR-I.
Zuthunglo Patton, IFS, DFO Wokha, gave a powerpoint presentation on the salient features of National Afforestation Programme (NAP) and encouraged the participants to do good work as they would be the 100% beneficiaries of the programme.
Awards for the Best Performing JFMCs and Ranges were given – Alikhum Village JFMC won the Best Performing JFMC Award with Longsachung Village JFMC as runners-up; Merapani Range won the Best Performing Range Award for their efforts towards protection of departmentally purchased lands as well as JFMC works and Wokha Range received the runners-up award for their sincerity, protection of Mt. Tiyi and combating forest fires.
Thereafter, another powerpoint presentation on role of JFMCs was given by Punseni Khing, RFO Merapani Range, in detail. He spoke about the various important roles and responsibilities of the JFMCs with regards to Joint Forest Management as well as for biodiversity conservation, intelligence sharing or combating other challenges like Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) and forest fires together with Forest Department. After this, JFMC presidents and members of Pongidong JFMC, Thillong, Changpang and Wokha village shared their thoughts and experiences regarding Joint Forest Management. Some experiences on behalf of the frontline personnel were given by Ezamo Shidio, FR-II.
The programme ended with vote of thanks by Kekrieselhou Kitshe, RFO Baghty, and benediction by Mhonchumo Lotha, Peon. Field exposure was given to them by showing them around the Central Nursery and explaining to them about how to start and maintain a nursery.
