Awareness programme and plantation drive mark Wildlife Week in Mon

Dimapur, Oct. 8 (EMN): Wildlife Division, Dimapur, observed the Wildlife Week 2020 at Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary and Elephant Reserve in Mon district by organising an awareness programme on “Protection and conservation of wildlife” as well as undertook cleanliness and plantation drive.

An update from the Wildlife Division stated that the awareness programme saw the participation of village councils from Lower Tiru village, Upper Tiru village, representatives of village eco-development board, Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) based at Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary, chairman of NGO Greensons and officers and staff of Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary.

Delivering a keynote address, the wildlife warden, Tokaho H Kinimi, solicited the support, co-operation and assistance of the fringe villages in protection and conservation efforts. Advocating the balance of nature, he appealed to the public for peaceful co-existence with wildlife and nature.

“Forest provides us with clean air, water and shades besides is a home to many species of birds and animals and so it is one’s bounden duty to do their own bit to protect and preserve it,” Kinimi stated.

While acknowledging that people living in villages depended on forests for fuel wood and food for survival, he pointed out that it is ‘no license’ to be reckless with the natural resources. He appealed to the participants to plant more trees for every tree cut down and champion for the cause of nature and wildlife.

Chairman of Upper Tiru village eco-development board Tapong, and chairman of Lower Tiru Village Council Nokham, also spoke at the event.
Chairman of Greensons, Jess T Murry spoke on the importance of forest and wildlife. He termed the people living in fringe villages of Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary ‘privileged’ to enjoy unlimited fresh air, which could not have been possible without the sanctuary. He appealed to the participants to co-operate with the department and preserve and protect the abundance flora and fauna of the region.

The programme started with invocation by Heiwiang Konyak from Lower Tiru village, while vote of thanks was delivered by Chuba, officer-in-charge of Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary.

The awareness programme was followed by cleanliness and plantation drive.