Dimapur, July 17 (EMN): A seminar about conserving biodiversity and threatened species in community conserved areas was conducted on July 17 in the council hall of Mon.
The government publicity agency, the department of Information and Public Relations (IPR), issued updates on Wednesday informing about the programme.
The additional deputy commissioner of Mon, Hiazu Meru, addressed the event. Protecting the environment and conserving biodiversity is everybody’s responsibility, he said. Citing an example, he said elephants and tigers in the district became ‘a story because all were hunted and eaten up, and likewise other species will follow.’ He urged the gathering to start protecting and conserving flora and fauna for the future generations.
The officer also urged the people to remember the Naga people’s culture of depending directly on ‘biodiversity’ even for construction of houses, and for food. Meru advised them to work on a policy where all stakeholders and departments can ‘come together in order to uplift the villages’ economy.’
The divisional forest officer for Mon, Priy Singh, also addressed the event. He said that the biodiversity of Nagaland was unique and rich in flora and fauna. However, that wealth is gradually ‘degrading’ due to deforestation, habitat loss, and poaching and pollution, the officer said.
‘Many medicinal plants species in the region have become endangered,’ he added.
Singh mentioned also that protecting biodiversity will bring huge benefits in the form of supply of food and similar natural resources, medicines, energy and shelter. He requested the gathering to promote education about the importance of biodiversity and to start protecting biodiversity.
Heirang Lungalang, secretary of the Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum, addressed the event. According to the IPR, the NCCAF is a common platform created by community conserved areas of Nagaland to ‘share experiences, learning, and good conservation practices,’ besides fostering a collective voice for community conserved areas in Nagaland.
Members of village councils, nongovernmental organisations, GBs and students, among others, attended the event, the IPR stated.
