Kohima, Dec. 27 (EMN): Unmindful human activity over the years such as deforestation for urban development, and agriculture activities among others, have directly or indirectly contributed to overall Climate Change across the globe which is resulting in Global Warming.
Understanding the adverse effects of Global Warming on the environment through choices of land use, the department of Land Resources seeks to integrate strategies for better utilisation of natural resources. It also aims to take up activities that focus on reclaiming degraded lands and increasing productivity, restoring ecological balance as well as increase rural income. This is to create employment opportunities ‘thereby promoting over-all economic development on a sustained basis.’
Dr. Menuosietuo Tseikha, district project officer of the department of Land Resources addressed a workshop on Climate Change in Kohima. The officials spoke about the department implementing schemes of watershed management (PMKSY-WDC) IWMP, rubber plantation, coffee plantation, tea plantation, spring-shed development, essential oils and aromatic plants and livelihood development.
Highlighting the positive impact on the environment through implementation of the schemes through a presentation, Dr. Tseikha said holistic and integrated watershed treatment plans are formulated through application of scientific tools, thereby conserving soil and moisture including rain water harvesting and agriculture and allied activities, including forestry, horticulture, fishery and livestock development.
Stating that Nagaland has been rated as one of the best performing states in the country, he opined that PMKSY is a highly popular programme among the rural people which is people-centric and a component of diverse activities and flexibility that also fits well into the jhum system.
Besides providing an alternative to jhum farmers for permanent economic settlement, Dr. Tseikha said through rubber plantation carbon is sequestrated at 680 MT per Ha, conserve soil, reduce soil erosion and runoff water losses and increase in ground water level and moisture content of the soil (foot prints of water /no water no crops).
Highlighting the benefits of coffee and tea plantation, he said it reduces soil erosion and runoff losses, stabilising the steep slopes. It thereby preserves flora and fauna and create a natural habitat for birds, insects and animal species. It is environmental friendly and has very few environmental repercussions, he added.
Spring-shed development, an initiative which started in the year 2015, increases spring discharge, recharge streams and rivers, enhance availability of water for domestic and agricultural use where communities become more resilient to climate change.
It also improved agriculture based livelihoods, reduce in water borne diseases by ensuring sanitary protection of the spring recharge area, leading to soil and water conservation, increased biomass production and improve the flora and fauna, including influx of birds and animals, he said.
He added that through implementation of the schemes by the land resource department, it is not encouraged to consider it as an alternative or sustainable livelihood sources to the rural people. It is more to show the way to the people for better utilisation of the natural resources and take up activities which can reclaim degraded lands, increase productivity and restoring the ecological balance.
