Kiphire Wildlife Division (KWD), in collaboration with the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB), Dimapur, today organised a workshop on ‘Sensitisation and Environment Education Techniques for Biodiversity Conservation’ at Pungro. The event was held in support of the Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Pungro subdivision.
Kamdi Hemant Bhaskar, Wildlife Warden, KWD, expounded on the issue of sanctuary management. He informed that 6.4 square kilometre of sanctuary area is not sufficient for management of a viable wildlife population, in the long run. He viewed that practices in consistency with biodiversity conservation in surrounding village areas can provide an essential additional buffer space for spread and migration of animals. He explained that the populace can be educated on environment education techniques with the token seed money, provided by NPCB to all schools in Nagaland.
Deenbandhu Panda, DEO, Kiphire, stressed on the importance of environmental education in Naga society. “Only education is a grass root solution to social problems. Once it is done then very little recurrent efforts are required,” he stated.
Responding to the calls for economic assistance, Chompen Ezung, EAC, Khongsa, reminded that “awareness starts with the individual and spreads to the community through family.” Already scarce financial resources are not always required to be spent, he stated. He stressed on the need for the community to step up and play a proactive role.
S Tainiu, ADC, Pungro, was the Chief Guest for the event. She explained the legalities of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and appealed for all to adhere by the law. She cautioned that there are stringent provisions in the said act, which prescribes punishment of imprisonment upto seven years for illegal hunting.
Pastor K. Yimto from Pungro Town Baptist Church iterated the “stewardship given to humans.” He emphasized on what he said are “Biblical teachings about conservation.” “God created the world with different life forms in it and saw that it was good. Now you and I are no one to degrade it from good to a worse condition. When we praise the beauty of mountain, its greenery and animal diversity there; we praise the creation of the Lord and ultimately the Lord himself.” He further stressed on the need to discourage indiscriminate cutting/burning of trees and hunting of wild animals.
The workshop was attended by 135 participants, comprising of teachers and village authorities from Pungro subdivision and frontline staff of KWD. A group activity on awareness education plans for their areas was conducted. The activity focused on developing eco gardens and avenue plantation; conducting monthly awareness service at churches and village level seminars; displaying hunting ban signboards and formation of eco clubs at every village by student unions. An idea to set up an Inter-Village Co-ordination Committee to maintain good practices in area surrounding the Sanctuary was also discussed.
TY Among, President, Saramati Awung Conservation Area Management Society (SACAMS), shared his experiences of prolonged conservation work with community. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Kiusang, RFO, KWD.