Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 12
The state forest department is currently mobilizing public opinion on formation of biodiversity management committees and landscape management committees at village levels so as to propose potential biodiversity areas in the state such as the Dzükou and Japfü range to be declared as heritage sites under the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
This was informed by department officials on Thursday during the inauguration of a Watch Tower at Teqweazou, a conservation area in Kigwema, erected by the Kigwema village council and the Kigwema Biodiversity Trust.
Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Dr Neikesalie Nicky Kire who graced the occasion as the chief guest said Nagaland is endowed with rich forests but the people have not really been able to realize the worth, nor have they received deserving benefit. For this, he said the department is formulating new policies and is also attempting to garner public consent to turn certain areas into conservation sites. While highlighting the need for concerted efforts on how best to preserve and protect biodiversity, the minister emphasized that the ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) that is sought from village authorities for declaration of conservation areas will in no way infringe land ownership. He also informed that the process is going on for assistance and collaboration for preserving the natural wealth of the state through national and international projects. Further, Dr. Kire called upon the younger generation to seriously take up conservation issue and raise awareness to others as well.
MLA Vikho-o Yhoshü, who also hails from Kigwema village, acknowledged the forest department for providing the opportunity to the villagers to construct the watch tower under its Intensification of Forest Management Scheme. Asserting that conservation efforts should carry on and make progress, he also expressed hope for more collaboration in future as well towards conserving biodiversity of the area.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force Nagaland, M Lokeswara Rao also pointed out that Nagaland has immense biodiversity wealth and has a high rate of Community Conservation Areas (CCAs) which indicates that the ancestors had possessed valuable traditional knowledge and protected the forests.
He highlighted that the department is trying to create more biodiversity centres so that some benefits may be earned by the people from the central government. By creating such centres, the department will not take away the land from the villagers but rather help them in preserving their biodiversity and provide ways for them to benefit through conservation, he assured. Principal Secretary for Forest, NN Zhasa also spoke on the occasion and apprised the gathering of the potential available in the state’s green resources.
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He stated that Nagaland is located in one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots of the world and out of a total 16,579 sq km area, the forest department has only 12% of the area under it while the rest 88% are held by the people.
He observed that the 12% area alone has the potential benefit the entire Nagas and that new policies are being framed for the Naga people to benefit from their community conservation reserve forests.
Meanwhile, Zhasa voiced deep concern on the massive forest fires that are occurring almost every year particularly on the Japfü range and Dzükou during dry season. Towards this, he underscored the need for a forest out-post or beat-post to be introduced in the area so that a mechanism can be set up for monitoring the entry and exit of visitors to these biodiversity-rich places. He also stressed that these two areas are rich nature reserves and have the potential to be converted into world heritage biodiversity site as well as a cultural landscape heritage site.
DFO Kohima Division, Sidramappa lauded the Kigwema villagers on their endeavours to conserve their forest wealth. He said their forest resources are a part of a broader ecological area under Mt. Japfü and Dzükou, which contribute to an even wider ecological spectrum beyond the state. This bionetwork controls the micro-ecological system of different places and many villages in the neighbouring districts depend on this ecosystem, he said. Towards this, he urged upon the people to come out of “village border mentality” and think in a broader way to help in conserving the precious ecosystem.
The event was attended by Kigwema village leaders and elders, Kigwema Biodiversity Trust, forest department officials, authorities and students of Japfu Christian College and well wishers of the village.
