Dimapur, Nov. 3 (EMN): A forum for biodiversity conservation in the Satoi range of Zunheboto district has been formed. The “Chikhu Range Biodiversity Conservation Committee” was formed by 10 villages in Satoi range on November 2, updates from organisers informed.
Each village nominated two representatives to form a 20-member committee. This committee will be working towards biodiversity conservation, protection of threatened species, natural resources management and advocacy in the Satoi range, a press release stated.
The area is said to be temperate and has subtropical broadleaf forests. According to a press release from Binoy Chutia, from an organisation called ‘Foundation for Ecological Security’ (FES), the entire range has been recognised as an ‘important birds area’ for it rich bird diversity.
The forest hosts rare and endangered wildlife species including Nagaland state’s bird Blyth’s Tragopan, Western Hoolock Gibbon, Chinese Pangolin, and the Great Hornbill, the press release stated.
‘The committee was formed at Satoi on Nov. 2 2019 to represent Satoi range in order to address and discuss conservation issues and sustainable development ideas in the range’s area. This is the second consultant meeting to form a landscape level forum in the range,’ the press release stated.
The first meeting was conducted held at Satoi town on September 19 2019 to discuss the need and necessity for a committee, the updates stated.
‘During the first meeting, representatives agreed that a range-level multi-stakeholders’ forum is necessary to initiate dialogues and collaborative conservation actions. During the second consultation meeting after deliberation and discussion, the representative formed the forum,’ the press release stated.
‘It is named after the highest mountain in Satoi range “Chikhu,” it stated.
“The meeting was organised and facilitated by the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) working on biodiversity conservation in the state,” the press release added.
