Kobulong, July 26: In an ambitious plan to increase the green cover across the Asetkong range of Mokokchung district, a local environmental campaign called ‘Greening Asetkong project’ was launched by Parliamentary Secretary for Geology and Mining Dr Imtiwapang Aier at Kobulong on Tuesday.
The projects targets five years of planting trees, fruits trees, ornamental trees and various other varieties of trees around Asetkong range in phases.
The project was initiated to uphold a resolution pass during the 68th Asetkong Mungdang to protect surrounding environs.
Addressing a program marking the launch of the project, Dr Imtiwapang Aier said that Global Warming or Climate Change due to pollution was not just a problem of the future, but one that was happening in the current times. Said problems are caused by human activities, he saidAier also lamented that in Nagaland one of the commonest forms of environmental degradation was shifting cultivation. The practice involves felling trees followed by seasonal forest fires. He added ‘jungle burning’ was a common worldwide phenomenon and a major threat to forests. Effort are being undertaken to prevent ‘further jungle burning’ in Nagaland, the politician said
Further, he said that the project was in itself a platform of participating for the preservation of environment. ‘We are doing a yeomen service to the world environment community and show solidarity with the rest of the world in preserving the environment.’
The parliamentary secretary encouraged the community to make the small range into a ‘pollution free zone and bring the ecological imbalance’ into a “natural carbon free zone.”
After the launch of the project, the Asetkong community adopted the day, July 26, as “Greening Asetkong Day,” and to be observed every year for the next five year ‘in solidarity with world environment community.’
The politician also requested village councils to maintain a square kilometer of ‘forest conservation area’ in every village as was resolved during the Asetkong Mungdang. He assured to sponsor saplings.
Around 2000 saplings, sponsored by the parliamentary secretary were planted by volunteers around the range.
A similar project called the “Greensight project” was launched by parliamentary secretary Dr Imtiwapang Aier at Mopungchuket village too. The event was initiated by Mopungchuket Ait Laisher Telongjem.
The second project is for five years and aims to grow trees along the 11 kilometer Mopungchuket-Milak road. Saplings of oak, maple, ornamental trees and fruit-bearing trees will be planted in segments along the road.
Dr Imtiwapang Aier has also sponsored 200 saplings of cherry as part of the pilot project.
