ASU organizes discourse on environment concerns
Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, APRIL 3
Although Nagaland is blessed with rich biodiversity, its forests are being destroyed and animals driven away by human activities that it now falls under the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, one among a list of 10 top hotspots across the world where biodiversity is richest but most threatened.
This was articulated by Dr. Vizovol Mekro, an environmentalist and an associate professor of Kohima Science College, during a workshop on environmental concerns under Angami Region as part of the Angami Students’ Union (ASU) and the PathFinder’s one-year project, ‘Morung: Heart of Listening and Back to One’s Roots’ held Saturday in the premises of the ASU office in Kohima.
Dr. Mekro lamented that Nagaland has abundant flora and fauna but the people who live in the state and look at it every day do not realize the worth of their natural wealth and are taking it for granted. He said if Nagas can promote themselves by exhibiting their rich culture and traditions to others to attract tourists, they have to also learn how to preserve and promote their biodiversity by portraying their natural beauty. He pointed out that the potentials for eco-tourism, keeping the environment intact while fetching income, is vast.
Voicing concern on random destruction of forests in the name of development and burning down of jungles for purposes related to farming, hunting and some out of negligence, he warned that at the pace that things are going, the land will eventually become barren.
Dr. Mekro stressed that the people must be made to understand that trees and plants along with their roots act as water reservoirs, and when cut down, rainwater cannot be retained and it will wash away the soil leaving only rocks behind in the end.
Explaining the consequences of jungle burning, he said that not only trees, shrubs and medicinal plants are being devastated in the process but they also destroy the seeds and saplings, the future forests, and drive away animals and birds. However, for an agrarian society like Nagaland, he feels burning of bushes are considered necessary for farming activities and prohibition of burning will not work. The options will be promoting responsible jhumming or provide alternative source of livelihood, he stated. He added that many people watch from afar with worry about these activities, but hardly anyone is getting down to actually educating the people concerned.
On the burgeoning stone quarries which are ultimately changing the landscape of the surrounding areas, impacting both the stability of the soil and environment, Dr. Mekro is of the view that this activity could be difficult to prevent since the increase in construction of RCC structures everywhere has increased in the demand for stones and stone chips, making the business thrive.
Talking in the context of the Angami region, he said there are many natural assets to study and learn, and also preserve and promote. Naming some, he mentioned the numerous varieties of orchids that are available on the Japfü Range. There is potential to even set up a mini-orchidarium, he stated, and encouraged young students of the community to initiate a venture to take pictures and collect specimens of the different types of orchids and consult experts for documentation.
He asserted that the people do not appreciate their assets, mainly because they are not aware of the goodness or the worth of what they have. Towards this, he talked about the considerable availability of natural brine springs seeping out from sandstones especially in the Western and Southern Angami regions which are locally called ‘Keziedzü’. He remarked that some of these springs do not contain real brine but have enough minerals that are beneficial for health.
Pointing to the abundance of at least 4-5 different types of raspberry in the Angami areas, he said this generally (locally) considered ordinary wild fruit is highly valued in other parts of the world because of its high nutritional content. In addition to these, there is the pineapple grown in Medziphema area, he said. Though the fruit from this area is considered one of the best in India, he expressed sadness that the marketing aspect has yet to take off properly. He opined that while the farmers need good returns, they must also be willing to sell their products at reasonable rates so as to encourage and attract big buyers. This will help in building a brand identity for the fruit from the area and will gradually develop into a thriving market. On conservation of environment, he acknowledged that many villages have now put a ban on cutting down of several types of trees such as rhododendron and wild apple trees in their jurisdictions due to awareness, but he feels that there is still a long way to go. A measure that can be taken up, he suggested, is restoration- replanting and refilling the affected forest areas, and charting out proper long-term plans whenever any development activity is to be undertaken.
ASU members who were present at the workshop participated in the discussion with the resource person on how best to care and protect the environment while preserving age old traditions.
The ASU and PathFinder project aims to provide a space for dialogue and debate among young leaders and also to provide a positive outlook and approach towards the culture of students’ welfare with constructive knowledge bank through various creative medium.
