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Officers from the Forest department and Assam Rifles along with village functionaries take a break for a group photograph after the awareness programme in Kiphire town on May 21.[/caption]
Dimapur, May 23 (EMN): State forest department under Kiphire wildlife division and Citizens’ Welfare Society, Kiphire, have jointly organised an awareness campaign for conservation of forest and wildlife to mitigate human animal conflict and wildlife crime in Kiphire town on May 21.
A press release by Satya Prakash Tripathi, PCCF (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden, stated that the additional deputy commissioner, Kiphire, Kumar Ramnikant, had highlighted on the dependency of human beings on forest resources for sustenance. He also stressed on the need for awareness to address human- animal conflict prevalent in Nagaland in general and Wokha in particular at this juncture when natural resources are rapidly depleting in the state.
Rajesh Kumar, DFO Kiphire, had highlighted on the importance of every species in a sound ecological/eco-system. He appealed the participants to come forward in protection of forest and wildlife for availability of natural resources on sustained basis for future generations.
Another speaker, Suman WM Sivachar, wildlife warden under Kiphire wildlife division, in his address, has underlined on the greater responsibility of humans to safeguard and protect wildlife since human life is interlinked with the balance of the ecosystem.
“Wanton reduction of populations of other species can spell dire consequences for humans due to ecological imbalance it creates,” he warned. He also spoke on Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
A simple translation of selected sections of the act in Sumi, Thikhir and Sangtam dialects were provided to the participants.
Satya Prakash Tripathi, state chief wildlife warden, in his keynote address, stated on the genesis of the human-animal conflict prevalent in the state. He also highlighted on the policies of the state government and MoEF & CC, GoI, New Delhi, towards addressing the problem.
Tripathi also highlighted on the importance of forest and wildlife, scenario of forest and wildlife in Nagaland, details of community reserves for increasing protected area network in the state as well as financial assistance to the communities. He enlightened that gathering that with notification of forest into a community reserve, the ownership doesn’t change and the land are required to be used only for forestry and wildlife purpose.
It stated that around 150 persons including officers from the forest department, Kiphire administration, 7 Assam Rifles, chairman along with members, GBs, leaders from NGOs, unions and public attended the programme. The programme was sponsored under the centrally sponsored scheme – human animal conflict mitigation of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi.
