Forest Department, Nagaland observed the 23rd International Wetlands Day (IWD) at Nagaland Zoological Park (NZP) Rangapahar, Dimapur. The IWD program was attended by around 150 persons including officers from the Police and Forest departments, chairmen, members of nearby villages, children and students on February 2. (Wetlands are lands covered by water — marshes and ponds, the edge of a lake or ocean, the delta at the mouth of a river, low-lying areas that frequently flood, etc., are all wetlands.)
A press release from PCCF & chief wildlife warden, Dimapur, Satya Prakash Tripathi stated that special invitee C. M. Chang, minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Parliamentary Affairs, in his keynote address, spoke about dependency of human beings on forest and wildlife. He said that nature, forest and wildlife could exist without human beings but the reverse was not possible. He explained what wetlands were and why they were important in addressing the issue of climate change, flood & drought control, rejuvenation of aquifers etc. Chang appealed to the participants to protect and preserve wetlands, against in flow of pollutants and biotic interference, so that they may help address climate change.
Toshi Wungtung, advisor, Department of Information & Public Relations, SCERT, Village Guards, as the guest invitee, reminisced about his days working in the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB). He said that a good number of wetlands had disappeared due to biotic interference. He stressed on the need for revival and rejuvenation of all such wetlands.
Satya Prakash Tripathi in his key note address, reported that there were 421 wetlands, of small, medium and big sizes, spread over 215 Sq. Km in the state. This figure is as per a study of the Indian Space Research Organisation, GoI. He added that the Forest department was preparing project proposals (for conservation and management of these wetlands) for funding by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, GoI, New Delhi.
Obed Bohovi Swu, assistant conservator of Forests, officer-in-charge, Nagaland Zoological Park highlighted the maintenance of wetlands at Xukiye village by the villagers without any support from the government, which resulted in the arrival of birds.
The participating children were given gifts by the special invitee and the guest invitee. This was followed by a visit to the three wetlands at Nagaland Zoological Park.
Earlier, the program began with an invocation prayer by Tonivi Awomi, pastor, Grace Bible Fellowship, Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar. Dr. Prabhat Kumar, director, Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar chaired the program and a vote of thanks was proposed by Obed Bohovi Swu. The program was sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India.