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Forest officers and village representatives from the northern Angami-II areas pose for a group photograph after a seminar on human-animal conflict mitigation, in Chiephobozou town on August 31.[/caption]
Dimapur, Sep. 2 (EMN): Representatives from 15 villages under Northern Angami-II area have pledged to conserve and preserve forest and wildlife in their respective villages.
Participants took pledge during a seminar on human – animal conflict mitigation awareness programme, organised by Dimapur wildlife division in Chiephobozou town under Kohima district on Aug. 31. The programme was sponsored by Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi.
Delivering the keynote address, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Satya Prakash Tripathi, highlighted on the inter-dependence of communities and environment. Stating that students are the future brand ambassadors of conservation, he urged them to carry the mantle of trustee for the environment.
Presenting a power point on the importance and current scenario of forest and wildlife in Nagaland, concept of community reserves, status of community reserves, and other government policies existing in the state of Nagaland, he appealed the people to protect forest and wildlife.
Pointing out the difficult role of forest officers with the growing challenges of wildlife crimes, DFO Kohima, Rongsenlemla Imchen, urged the public to do away with blame game but take responsibility from the individual level by citing an illustration of Siyhama and Sendenyu villages.
Special guest and additional advocate general of Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, Kekhriengulie Theünuo, appreciated the efforts put in by the wildlife wing and assured full cooperation towards any conservation projects in the near future. Theünuo alerted the participants on how social media could be used to their benefit to claim compensation during human - animal conflict losses.
He also appealed everyone to join hands in combating illegal wildlife trade and to look beyond one’s boundaries of responsibility to maintain the ecological balance for sustained supply of water and fresh air for future generations.
Special invitee and PA to ADC Chiephobozou, Khünyu Rino, presented an account of the prime forests of Puliebadze indicating the undisturbed tall canopies which helps to harbour more wild animals and birds. He also stressed on the importance of imposing ban on killing of wild animals for a certain period of time to increase their numbers in its natural habitat.
Kikavi Chophi, forest range officer of wildlife crime control unit (WCCU), remarked that “burning forest and killing of wild animal is nothing but ruin of our future generations.”
Forest ranger of Puliebadze wildlife sanctuary, Kenikrul, gave a detailed account about the state bird of Nagaland, Blyth’s Tragopan.
Short speeches were also delivered community representatives.
As part of programme, a quiz competition amongst the students of Don Bosco School Chiephobozou was held which was followed by distribution of prizes and Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 to all the village council representatives.
At the end of the programme, the participants took pledge conserve and preserve forest and wildlife in heir respective villages.
