Longleng, August 1 (MExN): A seminar cum workshop for human animal conflict mitigation and nature conservation was organised by the Nagaland Forest department in Tamlu, Longleng on July 30.
Around 150 people comprising officers from the Forest Department, Administration, Chairman/ Members/ GB/ Head GBs of Tamlu village council attended the programme, which was sponsored under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India.
According to a press release from Satya Prakash Tripathi, PCCF (Wildlife) & Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland, Y Chingan Phom, President, Phom Peoples Council appealed to the Forest department to have a greater presence in the region by having wildlife or territorial Range Office at Sakshi and Tamlu.
Meanwhile, PCCF & Chief Wildlife Warden in his keynote address gave a presentation on ‘The Importance of Forest and Wildlife’ and also spoke about the Community Reserves notified in Longleng. Appealing to the people for protection of forest and wildlife, Tripathi further urged to come forward for declaring their forest into community reserve and contact forest officials immediately in case of damage of their crop/ properties/ human life.
Suman WM Sivachar (IFS), Wildlife Warden, Kiphire gave a presentation on ‘Wildlife Conservation in Nagaland’. Man animal conflicts – the reasons for them, mitigation measures were discussed. Different instances from across the country were shown to the participants. The success story of Amur Falcon conservation in Nagaland due to strong involvement of communities and the contribution of Longleng district in conservation of Amur Falcon roosting sites were also highlighted. Sivachar further sensitised the participants on various wild animals in Nagaland and their behaviours, the release said.
Meanwhile, Beizo Suokhrie, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Longleng stressed on the importance of wildlife in the ecosystem with examples. He also apprised the public of the status of the Community Reserves in the district.
The special guest Y Chingyak Konyak, ADC Tamlu requested the participants to learn more about Community Reserves themselves and to be clear of its provisions – pros and cons, to discuss at the village level in detail so that the reserves once notified can become successful examples of conservation.
Manvau Phom, Village Council Chairman, Tamlu appealed to the department with an application for consideration for a Community Reserve.
Earlier, Nukshimatong, EAC Tamlu in the welcome address highlighted how for the first time such a programme was being conducted in Tamlu by the department The release noted that there was a very positive and lively interaction among participants. The questions raised by the villagers were responded by Forest officers. Solar lamps were also distributed to all the participants, it was informed.
