World Wildlife Day 2021 was celebrated at various places in Tamenglong district of Manipur on Wednesday, with the theme - Forests and Livelihood: Sustaining People and Planet. Wildlife awareness run and plantation of thousand plants marked the celebration in the hill district which has 88 per cent forest cover.
With the aim to create awareness on conservation of wildlife across various parts of the district, the 44th Assam Rifles under the aegis of 22 Sector of IGAR (East) organised the World Wildlife Day at Azuram, Dikhuram, Tamei sub- divisional headquarter, Akhui and Tamenglong town among others.
World Wildlife Day is celebrated every March 3 since 2013, but wildlife conservation is an issue that needs attention and action every day, said 44 Assam Rifles Commandant Colonel Pradeep Kumar while speaking at the celebration held in Tamenglong headquarters.
Mass rallies with people holding placards and banners and planting of tree saplings were conducted as a part of the programme.
The Commandant urged the people to protect and conserve the wildlife of the area. He said that the flora and fauna of an area has intrinsic value and immensely contribute towards ecological, social, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic value of human wellbeing.
The day is a reminder of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crimes which impacts sustainable development of any region, he said.
Urging the public to spread awareness about wildlife conservation to children and youth, he said, “They are the future leaders and deserve a better future, where humans live in harmony with wildlife”.
Col Pradeep recalled that last year the unit had planted one lakh saplings of various local herbs and shrubs in various parts of Tamenglong district. Most of the village are living within or adjacent to forested areas, relying on various ecosystem services within forests for their livelihood, he said.
“These spaces are not only central to their economic and personal wellbeing but also to their cultural identity. But the flora, fauna and the human being dependent on them are presently at cross roads of the multiple planetary crises arising due to global climate change, biodiversity loss, and health, social and economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“To further spread the awareness about is our duty to preserve and sustainably use the vast variety of life on the planet, we organised a wildlife awareness run in Tamenglong town and planted one thousand plants across the district,” he said.
He also highlighted the role of forests, forest species and ecosystems services in sustaining livelihood of indigenous and local communities with historical ties to forested and adjacent areas the event spread the awareness among locals of the town.
Adding that the unit will continue to endeavour to pace up its plantation drive this year in collaboration with various departments, youth and civil society organisation. Towards this effort, self-help sappling nurseries are being created at various locations to facilitate jawans to contribute towards the fragile ecosystem of the area, he added.
