Kohima, January 28 (MExN): Dr Ram Boojh, Programme Officer for Natural Sciences & Secretary, SACAM (South & Central Asia MAB Network) UNESCO and ML Rao, Advisor UNESCO were on four days visit to Nagaland starting from January 22.
The UNSECO representatives met TR Zeliang, CM Nagaland on January 24 to apprise him of the progress of UNESCO initiatives being undertaken in Nagaland and requested the support of the State Government. The meeting was also attended by Dr Nicky Kire, Forest Minister and Chotisuh Sazo, Speaker NLA besides other Senior Officers of Forest Department and the CMO.
Temjenyabang, IFS Conservator of Forest in a press release mentioned that pre-feasibility studies had been undertaken in 2016 for designating Dzukou Valley and Doyang Valley as UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. The feasibility report submitted to UNESCO also included Saramati Range, to be taken up at a later stage. These areas have been identified taking into consideration the uniqueness, the rich biodiversity and also the initiatives shown by the community in conserving biodiversity, which can be a model for the rest of India and the world.
The Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is taking this initiative in collaboration with UNESCO, recognising the role of the communities in conserving biodiversity in Nagaland and bearing in mind that many such areas in Nagaland are owned by the communities. The next stage is to prepare a dossier with concrete plans in collaboration with Government of Nagaland, Government of India and UNESCO. Besides bringing recognition and strengthening the conservation efforts in Nagaland, the objective is to also link conservation with sustainable development of the local communities.
