Correspondent
MOKOKCHUNG, OCT 6 (NPN): State environment, forest & climate change (EF&CC) department is seeking to resolve the impasse with the Centre Chakhesang Youth Organisation (CCYO) over the detention of Vezhoto Hesuh in an alleged wildlife offence case, with principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) & head of forest force (HoFF) Vedpal Singh saying the department was making efforts to find a solution.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a Wildlife Week programme here on Tuesday, Singh described CCYO’s non-cooperation movement against the department as unfortunate and said efforts were being made to break the impasse and reach an understanding.
CCYO on Monday announced the first phase of a non-cooperation movement against the EF&CC department, citing the government’s failure to address its demands concerning the case against Hesuh.
Asked about the return of the Great Barbet seized by the department, Singh said it was done to de-escalate the situation and as a confidence-building measure, with the department hoping for a reciprocal response.
The Wildlife Week programme, organised at the Town Hall on the theme “Connecting Habitats, Thriving Wildlife”, was attended by EF&CC and village guards minister CL John.
Addressing the programme, John said wildlife conservation was the responsibility of all citizens and acknowledged the difficulty of persuading people in Nagaland to stop hunting. He said concerted community efforts had, however, begun to bring about a change.
The minister urged communities to maintain a balance in conservation efforts and called for adherence to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Delivering the keynote address, PCCF & HoFF Vedpal Singh said the objective of Wildlife Week was to create awareness about wildlife conservation. He said the Wildlife Protection Act was enacted in 1972 in response to declining wildlife populations and stressed that wildlife was essential for maintaining healthy forests.
He said progress in conservation had been slow but the movement was heading in the right direction.
Representatives of two villages shared community perspectives on wildlife conservation and highlighted challenges arising from human-animal conflict.
State development commissioner and principal secretary, EF&CC, Y Kikheto Sema, also addressed the programme.