Wildlife week 2021 was observed in Kohima and Kiphire to raise awareness among the people for the protection of wildlife resources and to address the long-term goals of protecting the wildlife across the state.
‘Conservation benefits entire world as biodiversity is interlinked’
Kohima forest division organised an exposure trip under the initiative “my CCA, my pride” for Zhadima Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) to Khonoma Village on October 8 where JFMC members were introduced to how Community Conservation Areas (CCAs) had a huge impact on mutual coexistence of humans and wildlife.
A press release from office of the divisional forest officer informed that DFO Kohima Rajkumar M in his opening remarks said that the main purpose of the exposure visit was to learn the experiences of conservation initiatives taken up by the community.
He said that Nagaland had one of the highest numbers of CCAs in the country and that the efforts taken by communities for conservation not just benefitted the village or district but the entire world since biodiversity was interlinked.
DFO also briefed about “project future” where innovative awareness projects were implemented by Kohima forest division.
Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (TRUST) chairman, Kezhaseria Meyase said that the conservation began on December 11, 1998 by some of the uncles from the village.
Khonoma village community being from a hunting and logging community, taking a U-turn from how they were in the past was not an easy task as they relied on hunting and logging for their livelihood and sustenance.
He said that people who started the idea of conservation, was not an easy task as they were criticized for being idealists.
In time, the community began to see the importance of conservation and he empahsised that conservation at Khonoma was effective because of the involvement of the community. In this regard, he acknowledged his community, executive committee of KNCTS (TRUST) and individuals who initiated the conservation.
Meanwhile, KNTCS (TRUST) secretary Keneivito Christopher Sophi briefed about the history of the village and how the concept of conservation and preservation was initiated.
Sharing about the benefits of conservation, he said that tourists’ inflow had increased and so has the biodiversity.
He also highlighted about Alder trees based Jhum cultivation in the village that served as alternate source for firewood while keeping other forests untouched and maintaining the ecosystem conservation in tune with nature.
Also speaking at the programme, RFO & FMU head, Chiephobozou Range, V. Mato Koso said that one should not destroy the habitat of wildlife as they come and settle in par with their environmental conditions.
He thanked Khonoma village community for sharing their conservation areas, for being welcome, for generosity and for hospitality.
Earlier, JFMC vice chairman, Zhadima, Kedelizo thanked the DFO for organising the exposure tour and expressed gratitude to the Khonoma village community for sharing their experiences and giving them insights about community-led conservation efforts.
Joint councils reaffirm commitment to protect biodiversity
Kiphire wildlife division along with Kiphire territorial division observed Wildlife Week on the theme, “#save life in wildlife”.
A press release from the office of wildlife warden Kiphire informed that as part of the activities, online food art competition was organised for classes III to X in six districts under its jurisdiction: Phek, Kiphire, Noklak, Tuensang and Mon to create awareness and consciousness on wildlife week and promote awareness on conservation.
The forest division organised a culmination programme of Wildlife Week 2021 at community education & recreation centre, Fakim village which was attended by joint councils of Fakim, Thanamir and Vongtsuvong villages along with attendees and department officials.
During the meeting addressed by the wildlife warden Kiphire, M. Limaba, the joint councils reaffirmed their commitment to protect the biodiversity and to strengthen the cooperation between the department and stakeholders to make “Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary,” a model WLS for the state and country.
The meeting was chaired by Forester-I, Tinokumzuk Chang, invocation was pronounced by anti-poaching squad Yantsemong and vote of thanks was proposed by game watcher Alemba Yimchunger.
Motor awareness to sensitise on wildlife conservation
As part of the activity of wildlife week 2021, Mokokchung forest division organised a motor awareness campaign from Imlong place police point, Mokokchung town on October 8. The campaign was flagged off by divisional forest officer (DFO) Mokokchung, Dr. Sentitula.
According to a DIPR report, highlights of the campaign included meeting with village council/JFMCs/BMCs in all forest ranges/beats, public announcement on arrival of Amur Falcon, importance of wildlife conservation, section in WLPA (1972) relating to prohibition of hunting penalties convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals and distribution of book mart, pamphlets, appeals on forest & wildlife.
The campaign enroute would cover district sub-divisions and places such as Mokokchung to Changtongya-Tuli-Mangkolemba via Longchem-Changki-Mangmetong-Longkhum-Ungma and culminate at Mokokchung town.