Green social action is the work theme for Nagaland conservation

[caption id="attachment_256281" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Members of Medziphema town in Dimapur district at work during the ‘mass cleanliness drive’ that was conducted on June 22 in the town.[/caption] Dimapur, June 22 (EMN): Government and community groups in Nagaland continue to promote environmental health with various advocacy activities. Forest and wildlife agencies, community organisations, students and district administrative units in Dimapur and Mokokchung and elsewhere conducted various programmes during the week. Message of wildlife conservation, tree plantation and health of the environment were some of the concerns that the agencies promoted during the event, separate press releases from different organisations stated on Saturday. Their social action in conservation and environment matters was not limited to advocacy. In Tuensang district, for instance, a community organisation has issued a notice warning against violating a ban on hunting and fishing. Mokokchung A seminar for communities promoting among them protection and conservation of forest and wildlife was conducted by the establishment of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests on June 21 in Mokokchung. The event at Mokokchung also discussed wildlife crime investigation for forest officers, jointly organised by the Nagaland Forest department and the Wildlife Conservation Society of India, a press release issued on Saturday by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests stated. Participants including villagers from human-elephant conflict affected villages; district administration, forest officers and media persons, the updates stated. Forest officials highlighted to the gathering the extent of the human-elephant conflict in the district, the press release stated. The authorities were asked to ‘compensate the sufferers.’ Rajesh Soundararajan, deputy commissioner of Mokokchung, also spoke at the programme. He said there is need for people and wild animals to co-exist. The officer was stated to have appealed to the participants to protect forest and wildlife, and to plant trees wherever space is available. Said activities are for ‘sustained availability of natural resources for future generation,’ the press release stated. Chief Conservator of Forest (environment, biodiversity and research) Supongnukshi, no surname given, also spoke at the event. Supongnukshi was stated to have spoken at the event on the topic of biodiversity conservation. The officer appealed to the people to ‘coexist with wild elephants,’ the press release stated. The animals are said to be ‘damaging their agriculture crop, horticulture crop etc.’ The principal chief conservation of Forest Satya Prakash Tripathi gave the keynote address. The officer emphasised on the ‘need’ to educate the public at the grass root about the importance of forest and wildlife, and to mitigate human-animal conflicts besides curbing wildlife-related crimes. “He appealed the communities to come forward to voluntarily declare their land for animals and their habitats,” the press release stated. According to the press release, the members of the Wildlife Conservation Society of India highlighted the “uniqueness of forests and biodiversity of Nagaland.” They spoke about the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 which the state has implemented since December 18 1981, the press release stated. “They encouraged the participants for community-involved conservation efforts and also shared success stories from Nagaland such as the Mount Pauna conservation movement by Benreu village in Peren district,” the press release added. Tree plantation at Sanis As part of a ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation programme promoting water conservation, the district administration of Sanis in Wokha district planted saplings along the roads of Sanis town on June 21. The administration undertook the conservation activity with members of St. Paul School, updates stated on Saturday. The slogan for the event was "Everyday can be World Environment Day". “Students were encouraged not only to plant trees but to take responsibility for the care of one sapling each till it is mature. They were also encouraged to write their names on a tag and hang it on the bamboo fence around the saplings,” the updates stated. Cleaning Medziphema Members of the Medziphema town public carried out a mass cleanliness drive on June 22 on the town, in Dimapur district. The work, organised by the Medziphema Town Mechü Krotho (Medziphema town public organisation) in collaboration with the civil administration and colony leaders, included clearing the area of plastic waste and to ‘make the town a plastic free zone,’ updates stated. The Medziphema Town Mechü Krotho issued a press release to the media on Saturday informing about the event. “Barring plastic bags below 50 microns, the civil administration has banned the use of plastics including disposable cups and plates, small sized mineral water bottles, etc. in Medziphema town,” the press release stated. “Hundreds of people braved the early morning showers to participate in the mass cleanliness drive and in this regard, MTMK conveyed its sincere gratitude to everyone who co-operated towards making Medziphema cleaner and plastic-free.” YAA The Yimchungrü Akherü Arihako (YAA) in Tuensang district, has taken note that some people were poaching from areas where hunting and fishing, besides collecting medicinal plants, have been banned. The organisation issued a press release to the media on Saturday informing about a number of decisions it has taken to curb said illegal activities. The YAA referred to a standing resolution that was said to have been adopted during the 41st general session of the organisation at its headquarter Shamator. The resolution prohibited hunting, fishing, poaching and collection of medicinal plants or herbs within its jurisdiction, the press release stated. However, the statement noted, it has been brought to the knowledge of YAA that some individuals are “clandestinely engaged in the aforementioned ‘illegal trade’ in the region.” The organisation has stated that it shall enforce a blanket ban on said activities in the entire Yimchungrü jurisdiction, the press release stated. “In this regard, YAA endorsed all its constituent units to reinforce the resolution through proper monitoring and empowers them to penalize defaulters within their respective jurisdiction as per the resolution. In the event of non-compliance of this order or failure to implement the said resolution by any of the constituent unit, the concerned unit and village council shall be held fully responsible.” The organisation has sought cooperation and support from stakeholders including the village councils in preserving the flora and fauna of the region