Zunheboto, May 22 (MExN): Organized and hosted by Sumi Baptist Akukuhou Kuqhakulu (SBAK) Nito Mount in collaboration with Nagaland State Biodiversity Board, International day of Biological Diversity with the theme ‘our biodiversity, our food, our health’ was celebrated on May 22.
More than 300 participants from 147 churches under SBAK including pastors, village chiefs and council chairman attended eventwith the Deputy Commissioner of Zunheboto Shanavas C, IAS as the special guest.
The DC while applauding the organizers for adopting a resolution on protection and preservation of the biodiversity by the churches, he also challenged the gathering that unless there is public participation, the government alone cannot do much to effect a change. He also spoke on the importance of a ban on hunting and encouraged that even though a ban on hunting cannot be stopped all of a sudden, with perseverance and dedication from the public, it is not impossible and further went on to add that we are selfish if we think only about our present without thinking about the future generation.
Savinuo Kikhi, Forest Ranger Officer, in her keynote address spoke on the meaning of biodiversity, causes for the loss of biodiversity which included deforestation, development activities without proper planning, over exploitation of resources, jhumming, use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides etc. She also highlighted the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, Biological Diversity Act 2002 and said that International day of Biological Diversity is being celebrated across the globe to create awareness and educate people on its importance and urged the gathering that we need to work together as a team and help one another.
Nuklu Phom, kept the gathering engaged and active with his sense of humor and with the help of slide show of his village biodiversity conservation, he gave a powerful presentation on how one should manage the rich biodiversity even without the help of the government and showed the various activities done by his village led by the village chiefs and students in managing biodiversity. He lamented that Naga people in general are too lazy to stand on their own feet and work and only wait for the government to do something for them and insisted on the gathering to start with what they have and to stop looking only at where they are but focus more on where they can be.
The programme was chaired by Katoli, Secretary, Department of Women Ministry SBAK while Rev. Hukugha, Executive Secretary, SBAK Nito Mount delivered the welcome note with concluding remarks from Ivan Zhimomi, Team Leader, Tizu Valley Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Network, who is also the main person behind in successfully organizing the event and special song from the SBAK Nito Mount staff.
This was stated in a press release issued by Tavinto K. Sumi, Media Cell, Tizu Valley Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Network.
