[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Fragile Ecosystem of Nagaland, Barkweaver 2014, 67 pages, price 250 rupees.
“Geologists have their ears close to the ground,” remarked Michael Heneise, member, Barkweaver, at the book launch of Dr Vizovol Mekro’s book. He meant that geologists study the earth and its composition so intimately that it seems as though they have their very ears to the ground, listening to Earth’s heartbeat and interpreting it for us. This is a good indication of what the book, “The Fragile ecosystem of Nagaland” tries to convey.
In the author’s own words, “The ‘Fragile Ecosystem of Nagaland’ is about the magnificent flora and fauna of Nagaland in the past and their pitifully degraded condition today.”
The book is a readable series of articles on our ecosystem with helpful points as to how we could work our roles as caretakers of our fragile piece of earth. The first article, titled, “Elephants of Nagaland” could come as a surprise to the present generation, as it is about the now extant elephant population which used to roam the Dzükou valley, using the narrow mountain pass to cross over to Manipur. For a period in the past, our forests were so rich that they could host the pachyderms who fed on the dense vegetation here. However, we have not been able to implement conservation projects in the manner of the Assam state. It was just a matter of time before we lost our elephant population even as their habitat was systematically destroyed by logging, and the encroachment of human settlements into their environment.In the following articles, “The cliffs of Chumukedima” and “A sugar mill for a forest”, Dr Mekro writes about the destruction of the Seithekema and Chumukedima area by logging and the clearance of forests to make way for a sugar mill. Ignorance and human greed made a lethal combination leading to the destruction of the top soil cover and generating landslides and similar hazardous phenomena in the region.
Writing about our equally endangered fauna, the writer mentions the cultural use of birds’ feathers as ear ornaments, and points out how this cultural practice is endangering the bird species hunted for this purpose. He suggests substituting real feathers by artificial feathers in order to save the migrant blue jay population. In the entertaining article on “Swifts and Swallows in Viswema” by the author’s son, Tosovi Jordan, (which has been included in the book), some interesting facts come out on our bird population. Those birds which are seen as bringing good fortune to the house where they are nesting, are protected by the village, whereas the birds who have no cultural value attached to them, are in danger of being decimated.
Dr Mekro gently reminds us of the need to look after our already fragile ecosystem, because our survival also depends on its survival.
This is a book that is relevant not only for students, but for Nagas everywhere, and especially those who live in Nagaland and indulge in indiscriminate deforestation and hunting. The book concludes with a well written article on an activity which is seen as a hobby by many, but is really a way of life: bonsai cultivation. Accompanied by several photos each article is knowledgeably written and helps draw the reader’s ear to the ground as well.
The book is available at all leading bookstores in Kohima, and on ilandlo.com
the and the neighbouring states in the beautifully written memoirs of the early British administrators who served in this region. Notable are the writings of E.R.Grange(1840), Major Godwin Austin (1872), Captain J.Butler (1875) and Captain James Johnstone (1896). These administrators were all very good writers and many were multitalented. Major Godwin Austin was outstanding as a geographer, geologist, mathematician and an ornithologist. This evening we have Dr Surhozelie among us whom we all know as a tall politician and an accomplished academician. He has published over thirty books and is the founder and president of Ura Academy. Just a while ago when I asked him how he managed to find time for academic activities, he replied that academics is his first love. ‘Politics is so stressful and tiring so in order to relax I read and write, he added.
From the accounts of these British officers and the narrations of various village elders it can be gathered that a great forest stretched across Myanmar and the entire North Eastern Region of India. This great habitat also supported a plethora of wildlife forms. Today, only small dismembered patches of forests with limited faunal life forms remain due to thoughtless and ill-conceived developmental activities of mankind. And even these are poised to disappear.
There are many who are concerned about preservation of these remaining wild life habitats but there are more who are ignorant and indifferent. There are also those for whom financial and land acquirement interests take priority over conservation. The state government Forest and Wildlife departments, village councils and various NGO’s are working hard for forest and wildlife conservation but this will be a downhill task without the support of the entire public. I hope this book will be a small contribution towards their efforts in protecting and evoking concern towards forest and wildlife conservation.
Dr Vizovol Mekro
