State government appeals to all sections of people to protect Amur Falcons
EMN
Dimapur, August 28
The survival of human beings and animals both directly as well as indirectly depends on forests as their basic needs in the form of food, water, and shelter are met from forest. In addition to these tangible, forest plays a key role in carbon sequestration, amelioration of environment and climate change.
Chief Wildlife Warden, Satya Prakash Tripathi said, with passage of time and increasing population, biotic pressure on forest has significantly increased. In the state of Nagaland, lion’s shares (88.03 %) of forest are under the control of individual and communities and remaining 11.7 % of the forest are under the control of the government. The government had very limited regulatory role in management of private forest. Since time immemorial, administration and people of the State have played an important role in protection and maintenance of forest in the form of community conservation areas, wildlife based community conservation areas etc.
He said, the existence of wildlife is a good indicator of good forest and subsequently availability of timber, firewoods, and medicinal plants for human beings. The state of Nagaland had been traditionally a hunting state since time immemorial now. Now, people are coming forward for protection of wildlife and they are rescuing wild animals and are donating wild animals and birds, which are kept in Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar and Tragopan Breeding Centre, Kohima.
“With the efforts of the administration, people and different agencies of the government, NGOs etc., Amur Falcons, (a migratory bird) was well-protected in the State during 2013. This brought laurels, both nationally and internationally to the State.”
Amur Falcons are expected to arrive in the State around mid-September 2014 during their Migration from Siberia and Mangolia, Northern China and Japan. The migratory birds are expected to stay in the State till November 2014.
On behalf of the Forest Department, Tripathi appealed to the public, government officials. village councils , army and para-military personnel, students, NGOs and others for protection of wildlife in general and Amur Falcons (The state’s guests) in particular.
