EF&CC department observes ‘Intanki National Park Day’

DIMAPUR: Department of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (EF&CC) observed “Intanki National Park Day” at Forest Protection Camp, Intanki National Park (INP) on Thursday with chief wildlife warden, Vedpal Singh as special invitee.
A press release from INP informed that the programme was organised to commemorate the day Intanki Forest was declared as Intanki National Park and to create awareness about the significance of the only National Park in the state.
Fringe village communities who were main stakeholders were also invited to discuss ways and means to how Intanki forest could be managed better with involvement of local communities.
Speaking at the programme, Vedpal Singh encouraged the participants to see how fringe communities were benefited by taking the example of some well managed National Parks in the country such as the Corbett Tiger Reserve and Kaziranga National Park.
He also spoke about how environment played a crucial role in the overall wellbeing of mankind.
Director, Intanki National Park, T Aochuba acknowledged fringe villagers for the positive response on the initiative to observe the day as Intanki National Park Day.
He said that the idea to observe Intanki National Park Day was conceived in order to take fringe communities on board for protection and development of the only National Park of the state.
He added that this would be a yearly event where more activities and initiatives would be included in the programme.
During the programme, representatives from fringe villages requested the department to help the villagers in employment opportunities in the Park and overall development of the area.
They also shared their concern about prohibited activities in the park and assured cooperation with the policies of the department for protection of the Park.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by forest range officer Medziphema, Florence Sangtam while invocation was said by BSI pastor, Beisumpuikam.
Altogether eight villages Old Beisumpui, Manglumukh, Jalukiezangdi, Jalukiekam, Jalukieram, Lilen, Phaijol and Beisumpuikam attended the programme.
It may be mentioned that the day also coincided with “World Wildlife Day 2022” held on the theme “recovering key species for ecosystem restoration”.