Kirtivardhan Singh interacting with the officials of Forest
department in Kohima on February 18.
- DIMAPUR — Acknowledging
the immense potential of bamboo for sustainable development, Union Minister of
State (MOS) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and External Affairs,
Kirtivardhan Singh, has recommended inclusion of bamboo cultivation in future
Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) plans.
- The minister stated this during an interaction with the
senior officials of Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, in
Kohima on February 18. He appreciated the works being carried out by the
department and local communities and underscored the importance of involving
communities in baseline surveys and other conservation efforts.
- During the meeting, Dharmendra Prakash, principal chief
conservator of forest and head of forest force, made an insightful overview of
the forests of Nagaland, emphasising their ecological, economic and cultural
significance. He also highlighted the department’s efforts to build
institutional strength and implement community-driven conservation initiatives.
- He also discussed about the urgent need for sustainable
solutions to mitigate the damage caused by elephants and the importance of
timely compensation for affected communities.
- Temjenyabang, CCF (HQ), made a presentation on the
department’s activities and the externally aided projects such as forest and
biodiversity management in the Himalaya, Nagaland (KFW Project) and the
Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP), while Pravanjan Mohapatra, team
leader of PMC-NFMP, shared the impact assessment of the NFMP.
- Delivering the welcome address, Mhonbemo Patton, principal
secretary to the Government of Nagaland, briefed the minister on unique
landholding system of Nagaland and about traditional practice of jhum
cultivation and the challenges faced by the communities such as the shrinking
jhum cycle and human-elephant conflict.
- Report stated that the minister visited GIS Lab, wherein a
demonstration was given about data capture and processing. He lauded the
efforts of NFMP for in-house GIS and MIS development.
