KOHIMA: Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang has informed the state government’s decision to declare 2017 as the “Year of Plantation” in order to revive the ecosystem and maintained that his government was fully committed to protecting and conserving forests and wildlife.
Addressing the ‘Awareness Campaign on Mitigation of Human-Animal Conflict,’ on the outskirts of Beisumpuikam village under Peren district on Friday, Zeliang released one satellite tagged migratory Amur Falcon bird, which soon disappeared into the thick forest of Intanki National Park.
Zeliang said it was impossible for humans to survive or exist on earth without forests. He remarked that the existence of human, plants and animals were inter-related.
The event was organised by wildlife wing of Nagaland Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with Fingerprint Nagaland and Castle Group and sponsored by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
He pointed out that the Protected Area Network (PAN) was only 1.45 percent in Nagaland, which was much below the national average of 4 per cent. He said the idea of tree plantation and wildlife conservation was gradually gaining ground in the state.
He, therefore, appealed to all village councils in Nagaland to completely ban hunting throughout the year. “I appeal to all of you to coexist with animals; as that is the best way to live and survive together,” Zeliang added.
On the occasion, he also released a satellite-tagged Amur Falcon named ‘Intanki’.
Nagaland Minister of Forest Nicky Kire, in his speech, maintained that Nagaland became the Amur Falcon capital because of the community’s contribution. He also called for a collective effort towards protection and conservation of environment.
The keynote address was delivered by chief wildlife warden of Nagaland SP Tripathi. A Hungarian scientist, who spoke on behalf of the visiting Hungarian team, said successful protection of Amur Falcon in Nagaland “showed the world how Naga people take pride in conservation” and termed it as a “beautiful story.” (UNI)
