All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen's Union Manipur (ALLAFUM) observed World Environment Day at Langol-Sabi community hall, Champu-Khangpok, a floating village at Loktak Lake, Manipur on Friday under the theme ‘Celebrate Biodiversity’.
The ALLAFUM maintained social distancing during the observation which was attended by a few fishermen. President of ALLAFUM Kh Deven Singh attended the gathering as the chief guest and executive director of Indigenous Prospective, Ram Wangkheirakpam attended the function as the guest of honour.
Ram, speaking as the guest of honour, highlighted the importance of preserving biodiversity of the surrounding Loktak lake apart from maintaining the traditional method of fishing in the lake. He highlighted the importance of Loktak in providing a source of income for many fishermen.
Secretary of ALLAFUM, Rajen expressed the need of preserving biodiversity in the lake while adding that there are many plants in Loktak which can be used for medicinal purposes.
Rajen said that if the activity in a particular area of the existing biodiversity of the lake is altered or changed, it affects the entire ecosystem of the area. It can bring a negative impact to the lake and the people depending on the lake, he added.
He further stated that human activities have significantly changed three quarters of land surface and two thirds of ocean area and 32 million hectares of forests have disappeared in the earth during the last 150 year.
Coral reefs have been reduced to half of its natural state and glacial ice is melting at an astonishing rate due to human activity, he added.
He further said that the acidification is growing in water bodies, thereby threatening its productivity and added that ecological balance can be achieved only when the people understand the web chain of life in which every living being survives.
