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DIMAPUR — The Wildlife Division, Dimapur observed World Environment Day (WED) 2024 at Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary, Mon district, on June 5.
Around 50 participants from the fringe villages of Singphan Wildlife Santuary, namely Oting, Pongkong, Lower Tiru, Upper Tiru, Namthai, Hotahoti and Bishnu Sirepur village, took part in the programme, the Wildlife Division, Dimapur stated in an update.
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Delivering the keynote address, H Tokaho Kinimi, wildlife warden of Dimapur division, gave a brief background on the history of celebration of World Environment Day.
Highlighting on the 2024 WED theme, ‘Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience,’ he emphasised on the urgency to combat desertification by taking measures to stop over exploitation of land for coal mining in fringe village areas. Kinimi informed that apart from environmental health hazards, such mining activities pose serious health risks to people living in the areas.
The official lamented that the aerial view of the coal mining areas presents a bleak picture with no vegetation, and appealed to the participants for restoration of vegetation around mining areas and judicious use of forest resources.
He went on to state that with global warming and climate change, good forests and wildlife resources will be the new definition of luxury in the near future and appealed the participants to invest in nature and wildlife resources.
Lapwang Konyak, Oting Village Council member, thanked the Wildlife Division, Dimapur for organising the programme at Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary and for the invite extended to all the fringe villages.
Stating that it is humans who invited global warming because of greed, Lapwang also stressed on the need for conservation of natural resources for sustainable supply of resources for future generation.
Short speeches were also delivered by representatives from Pongkong, Lower Tiru, Upper Tiru, Namthai, Hotahoti and Bishnu Sirepur villages.
Positive interaction and feedbacks between the participants and Forest officials were exchanged. The participants assured the department of cooperation in all of its protection and conservation activities, it stated.
On the occasion, the wildlife warden, Dimapur also presented awards to winners of school drawing competition.
The programme was chaired by Imnanukshi Ao, officer-in-charge, Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary. The programme was followed by a plantation drive inside the wildlife sanctuary.