DIMAPUR — Awareness and painting competition among the students marked the celebration of 69th National Wildlife Week 2023 across Nagaland on the theme ‘Partnership for wildlife conservation.’ The National Wildlife Week is celebrated every year from October 2 to the 8th to spread awareness about preserving wildlife and also to honour individuals and organizations, who are making positive impact on wildlife conservation.
To mark the event, Kohima Forest division, in collaboration with Divisional Management Unit (DMU) of Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP), organised a quiz competition on October 6 at Forest Office Complex, Kohima.
Addressing the gathering on the theme, Chisayi, DFO and DMU head of Kohima, said everyone should work in partnership with different institutions and organisations to carry the conservation movement forward.
He further encouraged the students to contribute to the noble cause of protecting the wildlife. He also gave away the certificates and cash awards to the winners.
It stated that Ronseron Shitio of Class 9 and Ochaliro Amer of Class 10 from RDNUMS, Kohima, emerged as the first winners of the quiz competition, while Meyieto Sothu and Imlibong Jamir, both Class 10 students from Coraggio School, Kohima, and K Supie of Class 10 and Neisevino of Class 9 from Stella Higher Secondary School, Kohima, were declared as 2nd and 3rd winners respectively. The 4th position was won by Neisosielie Shosahie and Suhana Praveen, both Class 10 students from Modern School, Kohima.
In another programme, State Environment and Forestry Training Institute (SEFTI) organised a programme on October 6 with Dharmemdra Prakash, PCCF & HoFF, as the guest of honour.
In his short speech, Prakash explained that the Forest department alone cannot accomplish any progress in conservation without the people’s participation. He also encouraged the 12th batch Forester-I trainees, who are currently undergoing training at SEFTI, to keep themselves updated with the current changes happening in the world. He concluded by saying that “conservation of forest is protecting God’s work.”
The director of Intangki National Park (INP), Aochuba, also spoke on the MOU signed between the 16 villages and the department to work towards conservation and protection of the national park.
Prizes were also given to the winners of painting competition on the theme “Partnerships for wildlife conservation.”
In another programme, Dimapur Forest Division (DFO) organised a painting competition at Government High School (GHS), Thahekhu, on October 6 on ‘Wildlife conservation,” followed with talks on awareness creation on wildlife conservation delivered by Sandeep Rajgotra and Anato of Class 9 C.
It stated that certificates along with cash prizes were awarded to the first three winners of the painting competition.
Altogether, over 100 people comprising of teachers and students of GHS Thahekhu and officers and staff of Dimapur Forest Division attended the programme.
Meanwhile, Environmental Information Awareness Capacity Building & livelihood Programme (EIACP) under Nagaland Pollution Control Board, along with Care-Centre for Environment and Rural Poor (C-CERP), in collaboration with Nagaland Zoological Park (NZP), Rangapahar, organised a programme on October 6 with H Tokaho Kinimi, Wildlife Warden of Dimapur division, and Zupeni Tsanglao, director of NZP, as the guest speakers.
Tokaho spoke on the importance of conserving wildlife and imbibing civic sense in order to achieve the goal of conserving wildlife as individuals. He encouraged students to cultivate healthy habits in order to live a healthy lifestyle.
Zupeni urged to spread awareness in the community, school and parents about the importance of conserving wildlife and also discourage hunting of wildlife using catapults, air guns etc.
Khriehunuo Rutsa, EIACP programme officer, made a powerpoint presentation on Mission LiFE and its seven themes of the mission. The Mission LiFE pledge was also administered to the participants.
A total of 14 students comprising two each from seven different schools in Jalukie, members from C-CERP, officials and staff from Forest department and EIACP attended the programme.
Also read: KWT discussion encourages Ao women to preserve identity, roots
