The first Satoi Connect Fest concludes at Satoi town, focusing on biodiversity conservation, ecotourism, and community welfare.
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DIMAPUR — The first Satoi Connect Fest, an initiative aimed at strengthening the bond between conservation and community, concluded at Satoi town under the Zunheboto Forest Division on March 28.
The fest was organised on the theme “Community first, conservation always” with the vision of conserving the biodiversity of the Satoi Range while creating sustainable livelihoods through ecotourism in the area.
According to an update, the three-day fest brought together government officials, researchers, scientists, photographers, travel consultants, local communities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), environmentalists, and youth from across the region.
Scientists and researchers from the Zoological Survey of India, North East Space Application Centre, Shillong, Wildlife Institute of India, Kohima Science College, and Wandering Minds College of Fine Arts participated in the fest.
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Among the conservation NGOs who participated in the fest included Aaranyak, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), Highland Institute, North East Network (NEN), and YouthNet. The fest also received participation from the Nikon India team, who organised a training workshop on photography.
The inaugural programme was attended by Sidrammapa M Chalkapure, CCF (D&P) and Member Secretary, Nagaland State Biodiversity Board, as the chief guest, who also released the Satoi Connect booklet.
A full-day trekking event was conducted on March 27, where participants went on a five- to six-hour trek from Tsutoho village to Satoi town and Thsuruhu village.
A key highlight of the fest was the launch of the Community Social Responsibility (ComSR) initiative by T Aochuba, Conservator of Forests (Northern Territorial Circle).
ComSR is a transformative model where every individual member of the community shares collective responsibility toward social welfare, environmental conservation, and infrastructure development, stressing the role of communities as active stakeholders in development and conservation.
Unlike Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which is driven by corporations, ComSR is driven by the people, making responsibility participatory, inclusive, and sustainable. Promoting a culture of “We Before Me”, ComSR complements the government’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and other community development programmes.
The closing programme was attended by Supongnukshi, Additional PCCF (Territorial), as the guest of honour. The prizes for the photography competition and the first Living Lens Award were given away by the guest of honour. The prize for the Living Lens Award was sponsored by the Nagaland State Biodiversity Board.
The event witnessed participation from Satoi town and all 10 villages under Satoi Range.
The Zunheboto Forest Division expressed its gratitude to the deputy commissioner of Zunheboto, superintendent of police of Zunheboto, ADC Satakha, EAC Satoi, well-wishers, Satoi Range Students Union, Satoi Town Youth Organisation, Satoi Area GBs Association, Satoi Town Elders Council, Satoi Town Baptist Church, Satoi Village, volunteers, and the local community of Satoi Town, Satoi Village, Tsutoho Village, Hokiye Village, and all the villages under the Satoi Range for their participation.
The division also thanked G Kaito Aye, Minister of Road and Bridges, for his personal involvement and constant support since the initiation of the Satoi Connect initiative.