Wildlife and Habitat Protection Society (WAHPS) on Thursday announced that this year’s annual ritual of ‘Meiram Haiba’ (making of the fireline ) at Punshilok in Langol Hill range will be conducted from Friday till November 23.
A release stated that a workshop on protection and preservation of forests will also be conducted during the seven-day fireline ritual.
The ritual has been an annual calendar event for volunteers of WAHPS for nearly 20 years. During the ritual volunteers would camp at Punshilok forest in Langol Hill range and make the fireline to protect the forest area from any unfortunate wildfire. It maintained that WAHPS volunteers would etch out the fireline around Langol Punshilok forest during the dry winter season (November-December) before the onset of strong February winds.
It mentioned that the fireline had been able to protect Punshilok forest from vicious wildfire in the past.The fireline had aided WAHPS volunteers and the forest department in warding off a forest fire which reportedly started from plastic leftovers by picnic goers at Langol peak last year. Since then the state government had also banned picnics in and around Langol hill range.
It highlighted that WAHPS had been relentlessly striving to protect and preserve forest areas and the intrinsic wildlife in many regions of Manipur ever since its inception.
The dedication of WAHPS in rejuvenating and preserving Punshilok forest and the Langol Hill range for over two decades were crucial in reviving the springs in Langol Punshilok area. It maintained that the forest was not far off from dangers as incidents of sporadic wildfire were still reported even with all the precautionary measures.
Fireline is an age-old effective practice to safeguard forest areas from deadly wildfire. Firelines are made by clearing off shrubs and bushes on the fringes of the forest area.
It may be mentioned that WAHPS was founded in 2002 and since then dedicated itself to protecting the forest landscape in Langol Hill Range. WAHPS has been formally recognised by the State Forest department for their concerted effort in forest rejuvenation and preservation. WAHPS is also part of the Joint Forest Management programme under the department.
