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Forest minister, CM Chang, along with the participants at the inauguration of Nature Learning Centre at Forest offices complex, Dimapur, on June 20.[/caption]
Dimapur, June 21 (EMN): Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Parliamentary Affairs, CM Chang, inaugurated the ‘Nature Learning Centre,’ located in the conference hall of forest offices complex, Forest Colony, Dimapur, on June 20. The inauguration of Nature Learning Centre coincided with wildlife crime investigation workshop for forest officers.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Chang stated that the conference hall is one of the Nature Learning Centres of the State being established under the National Mission of Himalayan Studies, Ministry of Environment, Forest Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi.
The minister reiterated the State government’s commitment for protection and conservation of forest and wildlife and advised the participants to deal into wildlife crime cases strictly.
Satya Prakash Tripathi, PCCF & HoFF, in his keynote address, gave a brief background of Nature Learning Centres being established in all 12 Himalayan States of the country. He emphasised on the need of creating awareness among public at grass root level on importance of forest and wildlife to mitigate human-animal conflict and wildlife crime.
Bano Haralo, delegate from the Wildlife Conservation Society – India, spoke on degradation of jhum land and its consequence on water and food scarcity faced by the people of the State.
The programme began with invocation prayer by Sharon Patton. The programme was chaired by Tokaho, Kinimi, Wildlife Warden, Wildlife Division, Dimapur. The participants were welcomed by Dr. Ramesh Kumar Aima, PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland.
The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Prabhat Kumar, Director of Nagaland Zoological Park, Dimapur. The programme was jointly organised by the Nagaland Forest Department and the Wildlife Conservation Society- India.