‘Wildlife issues have taken centre stage in public consciousness’

[caption id="attachment_275348" align="aligncenter" width="565"] The participants of one-day workshop on “introduction to wildlife census” pose for a photograph at Forest office complex in Dimapur on Thursday.[/caption] Dimapur, Oct. 4 (EMN): Office of the Intanki national park organised a one-day workshop on “introduction to wildlife census” in the conference hall of the Forest office complex in Dimapur on October 3. The workshop was part of the week-long wildlife celebrations of 2019, informed a press release received on Friday. Vedpal Singh, Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland, while addressing the inaugural function, emphasised on “the need for wildlife census, its different methodologies and also highlighted the significance of the wildlife week.” Rajat Subhra Pal, principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force, Nagaland, said that the “foresters in the modern era are expected to play a more diverse role and not just that of protecting forests and wildlife as wildlife issues have taken centre stage in public consciousness.” Pal further added that the best management strategy was to first take stock of species diversity of an area and “encouraged field officers to keep abreast with the latest techniques and technologies.” Human-animal conflict, he said, was an important issue currently being faced by the state and that “a solution must be arrived at balancing both developmental imperatives and conservation principles.” Three technical sessions on GPS handling and techniques, elephant and tiger census were conducted at the workshop, it informed.

Wokha Forest division observes wildlife week

Wokha Forest division commenced Wildlife Week 2019 at Government Higher Secondary School Wokha earlier his week. A painting competition on the theme ‘Wildlife Week and Swachh Bharat’ was also held to commemorate 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. An update from DFO Wokha informed that Abeno Ovung, planning & livelihood expert NFMP, spoke on Swachh Bharat. She discouraged use of single-use plastics. Speaking at the event, Vivika Sema, FR, ADMU head, NFMP Wokha, stressed on the importance of observing Wildlife Week; to conserve and preserve biodiversity; and to extend Swachh Bharat mission to community forests and wildlife areas. Wokha Forest division also presented waste bins and brooms to the GHSS on the occasion. The winners of painting competition were Nzabneni Lotha, Sochumben P Ngullie and Yanbothung Ovung, added the update.