DIMAPUR — The Mount Paona Biodiversity Conservation Forum (MPBCF) consisting of 24 villages along the Paona range in Peren district has strongly condemned the amended Forest Conservation Act 2023 which was passed in both houses of the Parliament.
MPBCF contended that the said bill was against the interest of the indigenous tribal communities of Nagaland and is likely to deprive the rights and challenge the land and forest rights of the people who have been its custodians since time immemorial.
It stated that the forum is a voluntary organisation spearheading encouraging all villages within Peren district to take up conservation practices in their traditional ancestral lands to sustain and preserve the rich biodiversity. It, however, stated that the provisions of the act could jeopardise traditional land ownership and also threaten the biodiversity and ecological balance of the district.
The Forest Conservation Amendment Act allows all forest areas within 100 km from ‘borders or line of control’ for strategic projects of national importance and concerning national security. As most forests of the state would fall under those categories, the forum said it would certainly affect the dedicated conservation efforts of nature lovers.
It further stated that the act would undermine community ownership of land and forest and the people of the state and result in the destruction of the rich biodiversity of Peren district, Nagaland, Northeast and the country as a whole in the guise of development activities or security reasons.
The forum, therefore, appealed to all concerned organisations within Peren district in particular and the Naga intellectual organisations in general to oppose the said amendment.
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