Imlisanen Jamir
There is an often unnoticed image of Nagaland, viewed from the outside, which is devoid of the traditional ethnic clichés. And this view presents the state and itspeople with an opportunity which we would do well to grasp.
One of the major contributors to this is a conservation effort that started four years ago in Nagaland, one which continues to provide some much needed positive respite from all the failings and tragedies that plague our state.
The Amur Falcon conservation initiative, which began in 2013, was a display of the state and the community responding together to atone for the senseless and absurd mass killings of the said bird the year before. The reports of the wide scale hunting made news worldwide, portraying Nagaland in a very bad light.
However, the success of the conservation initiative and the way it has been sustained through continuous grassroots involvement made the world stop and take notice. In regular intervals, Nagaland’s Amur Falcon conservation success has been lauded by the scientific community worldwide, and rightly so.
Most recently, the National Geographic included the state of Nagaland in their list of the ten best birding destinations in the world. This was announced in partnership with the National Audubon Society, BirdLife International, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology while declaring 2018 as the Year of the Bird.
In addition to the Amur Falcon success story, there are also regular reports of new discoveries that reaffirm the biodiversity haven that is our home.
Most recently a new species of water strider was discovered in Nagaland. Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered the new species named, ‘Ptilomera nagalanda Jehamalar and Chandra’ from the Intangki in Peren district.
This was preceded by the discovery of two new species of Ginger in Ukhrul in Manipur State and Tuensang in Nagaland State, both bordering Myanmar in December, 2017. And before that in November, 2017 there were reports of a team of Indian and Russian scientists discovering a root parasite named Gleadovia konyakianorum, that grows up to 10 cm in height, and bears white, tubular flowers, in Mon district of Nagaland.
These are but a few of the instances among many such that should influence our stream of both state and community policy towards Nagaland’s future.
The modern world, as it is, is a humdrum of conflicting ideas towards providing impetus to growth and development. With industrial societies realising their historical misdemeanours and the unhinged positions on which they stand, Nagaland is frankly lucky to be still in the infancy of this discourse.
This provides an opportunity for this often neglected place to serve as an example to the world in embracing the wonders of industry and simultaneously conserving biodiversity.
Comments can be sent to imlisanenjamir@gmail.com
