Workshop held on counter wildlife and biodiversity conservation

Dimapur, March 14 (EMN): A one-day workshop on counter wildlife and biodiversity conservation, organised by the Nagaland Forest Department Wildlife Conservation-India and Nagaland State Biodiversity Board, was held on March 12 at Tiyi Hall, Wokha.

ADC Wokha, Lankonsen T Tsanglao, addressing the gathering, said wild animals have always been a critical resource for human beings.

‘Our forefathers had practiced hunting since time immemorial as a source of food which was key for their survival but now the age-old practice of hunting should be discouraged and focus on conserving our ecosystem for our present and future generation since many species are getting extinct,’ he stated, according to an update from DIPR.

He suggested more such workshops to be organised especially in the rural areas to educate the people and urged all sections of people to support the Forest department in their fight for the protection of the environment.

Chairman, Nagaland State Biodiversity Board, Satya Prakash Tripathi shared on various aspects of community involvement in the conservation of wildlife to ensure that management policies are effectively implemented.

Such workshops and training are essential to sensitise the public, he said and sought cooperation from all sections to work together to conserve wildlife and environment.

Team Leader, WCS-India, Dev Prakash Bankhwal, said the primary threat to the survival of wildlife is due to destruction, fragmentation and degradation of habitats.

When the ecosystem changes dramatically by the activities of human beings, wildlife can no longer survive, he said, adding that the community needs to create certified wildlife habitat and preservation of forest so that animals can use the water source, food and find a good shelter to survive.

He also emphasised on illegal wildlife trade and called upon the police and Forest department to work together in enforcing the acts to control such menace.

Steve Odyuo from Natural Nagas said various human activities result in wildlife decline and activities like hunting, illegal mining, poaching, illegal use of chemicals in the river, and exploitation of forest resources need to be seriously addressed.

In the technical session, Rishika Gupta and Shubhra Sotie from WCS-India spoke on wildlife crime global, national and local scenario drivers, law enforcement, scheduled animals, etc.