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Forest officials along with the BSF personnel and village functionaries during the awareness campaign on conservation of wildlife in Kami village under Phek district on May 19.[/caption]
Dimapur, May 22 (EMN): An awareness campaign for conservation and protection of forest and wildlife to mitigate human animal conflict and wildlife crime was jointly organised by the forest department and 111 battalion of Border Security Force (BSF) in Kami village under Phek district on May 19.
A total of 120 persons including officials from the forest department, chairmen along with members, GBs and students from seven surrounding villages attended the programme.
The programme began with an invocation prayer said by Weprekha Kupa, pastor of Kami Baptist Church, while Rhietso, teacher of Government School, Kami, said the welcomed address and highlighted on the conservation efforts of the village.
Speaking on the occasion, Nitin Gupta, second in command of 111 Battalion BSF, Satakha, has expressed readiness to extend support towards conserving the environment. He has requested the villagers to come forward with proposal for construction of fishery ponds in order to address consumption of wild meat.
Kenei M, conservator of forests, southern territorial circle, Kohima, and special invitee, spoke on the need for conservation of forest and wildlife by the individuals and communities. He commented that controlling in killing wildlife cannot be accomplished only by government machinery, forest department and district administration along. He has appealed the villagers to come forward with project proposals on community reserves for possible funding by the ministry of environment, forest & climate change, Government of India, New Delhi.
Satya Prakash Tripathi, state chief wildlife warden, in his keynote address, stated the genesis of the human animal conflict prevalent in the state in general and elephant problem in Wokha district in particular. He highlighted the policies of the state government and the MoEF&CC, GoI, New Delhi, for addressing the problem.
He made a power point presentation on importance of forest and wildlife scenario of forest and wildlife in Nagaland, concept of community reserves. He has appealed to the people for protection of forest and wildlife by declaring their forest into community reserve and also to contact forest officials immediately in case of damage of their crop/ properties/ human life by wild animals.
He also spoke on wildlife crime, applicability of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 in Nagaland, tranquilising unit in the department in tranquilising wild animals in human habitations, compensation against crop/ property damages by wild animals.
Velatso Demo, DFO, Phek, translated all discussion in local dialect for better understanding of the villagers. He distributed copies of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 to the participating villages. During the interaction session, DFO Phek has clarified doubts raised by the villagers.
The programme was chaired by Kewengulo, chairman of Kami village council, while the vote of thanks was delivered by secretary of Kami village development board.
In a similar programme, forest department has organised a seminar cum workshop at Kikruma community reserve for nature conservation for community and school students of the locality.
State PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Satya Prakash Tripathi, stated that around 80 persons including officers from the forest department, chairman along with members, GBs students of St. Peter School, Kikruma, have attended the programme. The programme was sponsored under the centrally sponsored scheme of community reserve of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi.
Delivering the welcome address, VDB secretary, Vezohu Tunyi has highlighted that Kikruma is the largest (area-wise) village of Phek district having 7986 population with 1852 households as per 2011 census. He informed that 1500 hectare area was conserved in 2000.
Satya Prakash Tripathi, in his keynote address, stated the genesis of the human animal conflict prevalent in the state in general. He has highlighted on the policies of the state government and the MoEF& CC, GoI, New Delhi, for addressing the problem. He has also highlighted on the importance of banning of plastic in and around the community reserve area.
Special invitee Dr. Kenei M, conservator of forests (STC), Kohima, spoke on the role of community and individuals for protection of forest and wildlife in the state of Nagaland. According to him 88.3 percent of forest wealth is under the control of individuals and communities where the government has a little regulatory role. He has appealed to the people to come forward for community reserve proposals for possible funding by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India.
Suman WM Sivachar, wildlife warden, Kiphire wildlife division, spoke as to how behaviour of wild animals is affected by their interaction with the surroundings and with human beings. He has appreciated the progressive methods of the village in conservation to avoid water scarcity.
A short interaction cum wildlife quiz was conducted for the students. Bookmarks with different wild animals and interesting facts about them were given to the students.
