Siblings—Dr Kelühol Tase, Medolekho Tase and Sweyiekhüto Tase who planted 500 Rhododendron trees in Jakhama in a conservation exercise which took them over a month’s time.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 8
Three brothers have embarked on a massive plantation drive, planting 500 Rhododendron trees of various species at Jakhama, near St Joseph’s College (Autonomous) to help protect the state flower from becoming extinct.
Siblings—Dr Kelühol Tase, Medolekho Tase and Sweyiekhüto Tase started planting the trees above the road leading to the college more than a month and a half back. They managed to complete the feat on July 7.
Dr Kelühol Tase, the eldest of the three, while speaking to The Morung Express stated that with the constant pressures from human activity on the environment, it is pertinent to ensure the survival of endangered fauna in the state. He added that despite the Rhododendron being the state flower, people seem to be least concerned of its protection. He added that climate change, wildfires, along with human activity, and the increase in the tourist inflow have put the Rhododendrons under threat.
Dr Tase, who quit his job at St Joseph’s College, Jakhama, to pursue his passion for environmental conservation, hoped to see the same zeal in the people of the state. While the planting of the 500 trees was carried out by just the three brothers, Dr Tase informed that he also instilled the motivation behind the plantation drive with the Jakhama Panchayat. “The plantation will not only add to the scenic beauty of the village but also offer an opportunity for the conservation of the species,” he stated.
While his initial moves have been a family affair, Dr Tase informed that he plans on larger conservation undertakings in the future. “We all have to start with our own homes at first,” he stated, while revealing that he has plans to convert an area of the plantation into a park.
The Rhododendron has been synonymous with Nagaland state, as in 1993, the tallest such tree in the world was recorded by the Guiness World Record in Nagaland. This particular Rhododendron was 108 feet high at the time of discovery. It is also the state flower of Nagaland.
Dr Tase informed that a recent publication by scientists with the Botanical Survey of India has documented and stressed on the need to protect the many unique species of Rhododendron. The study also revealed that the endemic R. wattü from Dzükou is one of the most critically endangered species in India, with only a few adult trees remaining in their natural habitat.
