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Kohima, June 6 (EMN): Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, various organisations, institutions and departments from across the state, observed World Environment Day, through different means to create awareness in conserving biodiversity on June 5.
Police officers and personnel of Chumoukedima PS observed the day by planting tree saplings in Dimapur.
Speaking to Eastern Mirror, ADCP (Crime) informed that on the occasion, OC Bendangwati and deputy SP probationer, Avikishe Khujumi sensitised the personnel on preserving nature and urged them to plant more trees for the future.
A total of 300 saplings were procured from the Forest office, Dimapur, out of which 20 saplings were planted in and around the police station compound and the remaining were distributed among the personnel, it informed.
NCCAF: To commemorate the day, the Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum (NCCAF) under the sponsorship of Nagaland Empowerment of People through Economic Development (NEPED), collected organic vegetables from conserved areas and presented to all the 11 district headquarters.
The venture was to share the blessings of the conserved areas and orchards with the people who are quarantined and also to show solidarity with the frontline workers, who are selflessly fighting the pandemic throughout the state during these uncertain times, stated an update from the two organisations.
"This year’s partnership venture has been quite a delightful one as we celebrated the day with the rest of the world in remembering how mother nature provides our many needs. Nagaland is a proud state with so much green cover still being maintained by villagers upholding the rich tradition of our forefathers who lived with their needs met from the bounty of their forests," it stated.
PBCA: The Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) Mission Centre Nyengching in Longleng in collaboration with the Forest division, Longleng observed Green Mission-cum-World Environment Day.
With the initiative of the PBCA, the Green Mission was launched on June 5, with the objective to protect the nature, envisioning 'green, clean and healthy environment.'
Phom churches under the PBCA have so far planted more than 12000 tree saplings within Longleng district.
Thanamir: In Thanamir village, K Asetsü, assistant commandant of village guard and PHED SDO Kevichiituo Mepfhuo, sensitised the villagers on the importance of conserving the environment.
Asetsü encouraged student leaders to lead in conserving trees and forest. He also urged villagers to minimise unnecessary harvest of plants.
The programme which was initiated by the students' union in collaboration with village council and church youths also carried out tree plantation drive.
MTLT: The Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) in collaboration with the Treehouse planted trees in and around Mokokchung town with the theme ‘Biodiversity – It’s time for nature’.
On the occasion, the first tree was 'symbolically' planted by the Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner Limawapang Longkumer at the DC office complex.
The volunteers planted trees at the IMDH (district hospital complex), the district jail, P Shilu Ao park, Mokokchung town park, Mission Compound, Aongza ward, BOC, Sungkomen ward and the Urban Health Centre, and Yimyu ward. The tree saplings were provided by the district forest office, Mokokchung.
He said that the 'best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; but the next best time is now.' He further encouraged to conserve the environment and to teach the youngsters how to live in equilibrium with nature.
MTLT has also pledged to safeguard the environment by creating more awareness and partnering with the different stakeholders in the society in making a cleaner and greener Mokokchung.
CRPF: The 173 CRPF battalion of Airfield, Dimapur planted trees and also resolved to make its camp areas plastic-free zone. The battalion also pledged to plant 10,000 trees this monsoon season. So far 2500 trees have already been planted.
Tree plantation drive was also carried out by Assissi Higher Secondary School, Ram Janaki Higher Secondary Schools, Dimapur, Nagaland University, Government Middle School, Ruzaphema, Government High School, Longkhum, Lumami KVK Phek, ICAR-NRCM, Tenyiphe 2 village students' union and youth organisation, Assam Rifles, North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research, Pfutseromi village water and sanitation committee and department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Wokha Humtso Elumyo Senior Youth Welfare Forum, Dr. Neilhouzhü Kire GHSS, Seikhazou, Kohima and Eco Club, Samagra Shiksha Nagaland, Government Middle School Zapami village and Eco Club, and Ahthibung region club.
Art competitions: To mark the occasion, Childline 1098, Mokokchung conducted painting competition for two age categories.
In 14-18 years category, Odichuba and Aotila Mollier bagged 1st and 2nd prize respectively, while Taochilong and Yarina won the 1st and 2nd position respectively in under 13 category.
DMI St. Joseph Global School observed the day by making posters, collage, depicting the flora and fauna of Nagaland, collecting and learning the names of plants and animals available at home, farm along with their scientific names and their importance. The students also participated in art and craft activities with waste material and dried leaves. Student also planted saplings in their compound, kitchen gardens and farms.
With a view to promote environmental awareness, Model Christian College, Kohima, conducted online slogan and painting competition on the theme, “Celebrate biodiversity; Time for nature."
A slogan "Nature without biodiversity equals a colouring book without hues," by Nukulu Ruho of BA 6th semester was adjudged as the winner of the competition while Leemei Sophia of BA 6th semester emerged as winner of the painting competition.
Eklavya Model Residential School, Diphupar organised painting, poster-making, slogan writing, model construction, and essay writing competitions. Winners and runners up from every class were awarded. The divisional forest office, Tuensang division organised an online essay and painting competition on the theme “Biodiversity” for students of the district.
The three best entries of essay and painting along with two consolation prizes for junior and senior category were selected.
Modern Institute of Teacher Education, Kohima also conducted painting competition and photography competition.
Ecological awareness: With the motive to promote eco-friendly environment and non-plastic products, the NCC girls of St. Joseph's College (Autonomous), Jakhama, under 1 Nagaland Girls' Battalion NCC, observed the day by distributing paper bags to vegetable and street vendors at PR Hill, IOC and Mhonkhola.
Earlier, on May 13, the team had donated 1,000 paper bags to the administrator of the Kohima Municipal Council, Kovi Meyase, for distribution to vegetable vendors and shops.
The paper bags were made by the NCC girls and their associate NCC officer from old newspapers, magazines, calendars and waste papers.
Kohima College also organised an awareness programme and distributed custom-made reusable face masks to daily-wage labourers and vendors in Kohima.
Th IQAC team of the college also organised and sponsored a project and online contest, "KCK Lockdown Biodiversity: It’s never a wrong time to give back to nature" for the students of the college.
The 24 NL (I) Coy, Kohima in collaboration with 16 UP NCC bn, Prayagraj organised environment awareness programme. Online quiz test for 200 NCC cadets on environment related subjects was also conducted. Certificates will be given to all cadets scoring minimum of 60% followed by incentives to cadets holding position from 1st to 5th, it informed.
Conservation webinar: ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun organised a webinar on ‘Perspective of agro-forestry for improved mithun husbandry’ to celebrate World Environment Day.
The expert speakers and specialists were invited from across the country to create awareness on the implications of agro-forestry for improvement of mithun husbandry in Northeast.
Dr. Habibur Rahman, ILRI regional representative, South Asia, and former deputy director general (Animal Science), ICAR, spoke on the importance of livestock for earning a livelihood. While appreciating the concept of semi-intensive mithun farming being framed and popularised by ICAR-NRCM in Northeast, Dr. Rahman stressed on the necessity of the development of technologies and their transfer to poor farmers and urged to prepare a roadmap to augment the mithun population in Nagaland.
Dr. Shiv Kumar Dhyani, senior agro-forestry specialist, ICRAF-South Asia Regional Program highlighted the potential of mithun to make people self-reliant and deliberated on the researchable issues pertaining to nutrient composition and strategic propagation of mithun fodder.
Dr. Virendra Pal Singh, representative for South Asia at CIAT, CGIAR, who joined the webinar from the Philippines, stressed on determining the carrying capacity of forest land so that mithun husbandry becomes sustainable. He also highlighted the importance of healthy soil for producing healthy fodder.
Several national panellists discussed on "Integrating mithun farming and agroforestry".
Scientists and staff of ICAR-NRCM and KVK from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland participated.