Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), government of India and the Nagaland Forest department jointly organised wildlife crime sensitisation programme on December 7 at Khonoma village.
A press release by PCCF (Wildlife) & chief wildlife warden, Dimapur, Satya Prakash Tripathi, stated that as chief guest, additional director and country head, WCCB, MoEF &CC, Government of India, Tilotma Varma, appreciated the initiatives and efforts of the Khonoma village council in conservation of wildlife.
She appealed to the Nagaland Forest department to replicate the wildlife conservation work of Khonoma village in different villages of the state.
Varma said the matter would be taken up with the ministry and that it would try to extend technical and financial assistance this endeavour.
Khonoma village council chairman, Neisamezo Pier, gave a brief background on how the village stopped hunting wild animals by imposing fine of Rs.3000 on those found hunting wild animals and birds within their jurisdiction.
He also stated how the Khonoma village became the greenest and cleanest village and added that the village have Blyth Tragopan Sanctuary and has been protecting and maintaining it on the same pattern of the government owned protected areas.
Satya Prakash Tripathi gave a brief background of the sensitisation program and highlighted the constraints before the Forest department in addressing the forestry and wildlife issues of the state.
He said Forest department would prepare a detailed project proposal for declaring Khonoma Blyth Tragopan Sanctuary as a community reserve by government of Nagaland and possible funding by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India, New Delhi.
Earlier in the programme chaired by chief conservator of Forests, Supongnukshi Jamir, the vote of thanks was given by regional deputy director Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Eastern Region, Kolkata, Agni Mitra. Folk songs/dances were presented by the villagers. Around 80 people from the WCCB, MoEF&CC, Government of India, the Nagaland Forest department, NGOs, chairmen/members of village councils of Khonoma and neighbouring villages participated in the programme. The programme began with invocation by advisor, Khonoma Blyth Tragopan Conservation Trust, Tsile Sukhorie.