An environmental and wildlife sensitisation programme was held in Yali village, Tuensang, to promote conservation.
DIMAPUR — An environmental and wildlife sensitisation programme was organised at Yali village on August 20 by the Tuensang Range under the Tuensang Forest Division. The initiative was conducted under the Forest and Biodiversity Management in the Himalaya (Nagaland) Project.
The programme began with a field-based Nature Education Training session led by the project-implementing agency.
According to an update, participants engaged in a guided morning nature walk that focused on identifying local flora and fauna, recognising wildlife signs, and understanding the broader forest ecosystem and biodiversity conservation.
Following the field visit, the main indoor session was chaired by Bokashe Kinni.
Range Forest Officer Menya Wongto provided an introductory overview of the project, stressing the necessity of its strict and proper implementation.
Commending the fund utilisation by the Community Conservation Area and self-help groups, the Range Forest Officer announced that future incentives and award ceremonies may be organised for high-performing areas, noting that trust and cooperation are essential for the project's success.
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Pastor of Yali Baptist Church, A Thungpang, spoke on the role of the Church in environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation, sharing that church staff regularly deliver sermons on wildlife protection in close cooperation with the village council.
Addressing local governance, Village Council Chairman M Malem affirmed that the village council is enforcing wildlife conservation through customary laws and will impose strict penalties on violators.
Highlighting economic and community progress, Community Conservation Area Chairman S Sangpa detailed the committee's activities, noting successful revenue generation through Entry Point Activities and the steady progress of micro-plan fund initiatives. He also revealed plans to form a new self-help group to sustain the project's momentum. Representing the women of the community, Kundang Lemla spoke on the importance of women's participation in forest and wildlife protection.
To strengthen legal awareness among the villagers, Forester II Tiakaba Chang conducted a technical session on illegal hunting and wildlife crime. The session detailed schedules I, II, III, and IV of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and discussed past wildlife crime cases to caution attendees. The Biodiversity Act of 2002 and the role of the Biodiversity Board were also briefly explained.
The session clarified that landownership and resource rights under Article 371(A) do not grant the right to hunt or cut trees indiscriminately. Instead, they carry a responsibility to protect these resources, reminding the gathering that Nagaland remains under the purview of the Wildlife Protection Act.