Dimapur, June 26 (EMN): As part of the human-animal conflict mitigation campaign being conducted across Nagaland, an awareness and interaction programme was conducted by Kiphire Wildlife Division of the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on June 24, at Dobashish Court Hall of Meluri.
DFO Phek, Velatso, in his welcome address, requested the villagers to help and collaborate with the department in gathering data on any sightings of wildlife, unique flora and fauna so that it can augment the collective knowledge. Only when we work hand-in-hand is when we can together succeed, he added
The chief guest, Dharmendra Prakash, IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Planning & Development) appreciated and applauded the conservation efforts of the public. He also shared his personal experiences and examples of successes. He urged the public to share their suggestions. Village leaders also gave valuable suggestions, shared grievances and efforts taken by villages in the area towards conservation. Villagers also requested installing of camera in the region to identify more fauna species in the region. They also said that conflict between wildlife and humans in this particular region has reduced.
They requested additional inputs from the department on management of abandoned jhum land. The participants also acknowledged the efforts of the Rongsenlemla, IFS, DFO Kohima and former DFO Phek.
Wildlife Warden Kiphire, Suman W M Sivachar, IFS highlighted the position, policies of the State Government and MoEFCC to the public. Owing to the fact that growing human populations are overlapping with wildlife habitats and also reduction in sources of food for the wildlife, human animal conflict is on the rise, he said. The virgin forests of Phek contain flora and fauna that are unique not only to the region but also to the entire world, he added.
