Angaan Ching Eco-Park, a success story of conserving nature
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 27 2019: There are many things of which Kakching is proud of, and one among them is the Angaan Ching Eco-Park, which is not only a park but a 'movement' that involves youth and young students in pursuit of a greener and cleaner Kakching.

Once nearly barren, the park now has more than 200 varieties of trees including many medicinal plants.

Located 774 metres above the sea level, about 2 Kilometres west of Kakching bazaar near District Hospital Kakching, the Angaan Ching Eco-Park (Angaan Hill Eco-Park) is testament of dedicated efforts of the Alliance for Development Alternatives Manipur (ADAM) to conserve nature and rehabilitate forest ecosystem.

Angaan Ching Eco-Park, a success story of conserving nature

Angaan Ching (hill) is home to two scared abodes including a Shiv Mandir where people from the surrounding villages, Kak- ching, Tejpur, Langmeidong, Laimanai, Keirak and Wabagai etc visit on Cheiraoba (Meitei New Year) for divine blessings.

Elders said that when Thoibi of the Khamba-Thoibi saga was exiled from Moirang, she travelled and reached the foothill at sunrise and the hill was thus named Angaan Ching meaning sunrise/bright hill.

ADAM & Angaan Ching
The Angaan Ching Eco-Park was established by the Alliance for Development Alternatives Manipur (ADAM) with the initiative of nature enthusiasts including its secretary, environ- ment activist Surjit Kshetrimayum.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Surjit Ksh said that the ADAM was established in 2001 and formally registered as a non-political, non-sectarian, voluntary organisation under the MSR Act 1989 in May 2002 to work for environment conservation and promote handicraft.

"ADAM aims at promoting people's participation in development processes and educating youth and students about environment pollution and climate change.

Angaan Ching Eco-Park is a movement ADAM devised to conserve nature and promote tree plantation with the intent to save the rich medicinal plants of the State," said Surjit who holds a Master's Degree in Social Works from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Explaining how Angaan Ching Eco-Park started, Surjit said that after ADAM took the initiative of rehabilitating the hill ecosystem in 2002, it got 'No objection certificate' from the Kakching Municipal Council in 2005 to continue their activities at about 105 acres of land on the hill.

Angaan Ching's forest cover at that time was reduced to merely 25 to 35 percent due to deforestation and repeated forest fires.

With the growth of awareness, constant tree plantation programmes and counter measures to control wild fire every season for years, the greenery has returned, said Surjit who claims that ADAM has revived almost 70 percent of the ecosystem.

Most of the saplings are provided by the Kakching and Thoubal Forest office, he added.

ADAM currently has 61 members in the general advisory council who contribute monetary and logistical assistance for its various initiatives and programmes.

The list include many personalities from all walks of life including ADAM's president Dr N Rajmuhon Singh, Dean of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Manipur University, said Surjit.

Sunday Eco-Club
One of ADAM's most important and promising missions is the Sunday Eco-Club, started in 2004, where young children are taught about climate change and encouraged to take up activities which would help conserve and promote environment.

"Sunday Eco-Club is a unique initiative where young students and nature enthusiasts are taught about climate change, social issues related to children and health.

Eminent personalities of different fields are invited every Sunday to educate and inform the children," said Surjit.

However, ADAM suspended the programme for a brief period and was resumed with the much needed assistance of the first Deputy Commissioner of Kakching Th Kirankumar Singh.

Now, children are back at the park every Sunday with buckets and cans to water plants, said Surjit.

"Children are integral part of ADAM's projects.

They will inherit not only the park but spread the success of the movement they are part of," he added.

Pay and Plant!
Simply planting a tree is easy but ensuring its growth and survival isn't and this is what that matters if someone cares for environment.

ADAM takes this responsibility seriously and charges anyone who plants a tree at the park a fee that ranges from Rs 200 to Rs 2,000 .

This fee is fuel for ADAM to ensure the trees' growth and power its many activities including the Sunday Eco-Club.

"The fees we take fuel all our activities.

This pay for workers ADAM engages from time to time at the park," Surjit said.

Memorial tree plantations
ADAM has initiated many encouraging tree plantation programmes and among them are Memorial Tree Plantation and Tree Plantation in the name of Sagei.

Angaan Ching Eco-Park has dedicated spaces for memorial tree plantations and one such site on top of the hill next to Shiv Mandir is slowly turning into a grove.

Here, trees are planted in memory of one's family member, in the name of their Sagei (clan/surname).

"The idea behind the memorial tree plantation is to encourage people to plant trees and remember their loved ones.

People love this idea of tree plantation more than other programmes as this type of plantation is concerned with the memory of their dear ones and the tree they plant binds them with a bond that is sacred," said Surjit who recently planted a tree in the name of his late father former Minister Ksh Irabot.

People on a regular basis approach ADAM for memorial tree plantation, said Surjit expressing that this can be a model tree plantation programme that can be spread fast and wide thereby raising awareness on climate change at the same time.

ADAM Environment Award
Other than the tree plantation programmes, ADAM had given environment awards for some years.

The first ADAM Environment Award was given to environment activist Dr Kh Shamungou in 2006.Manipur Mountaineering & Trekking Association (MMTA), All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and Centre for Research on Environmental Development (CRED) are among the recipients of the award.

ADAM is working on to continue the award, said Surjit.

Many eminent personalities have planted trees at the park and among them are human rights activist DR John Dayal, Arjuna Awardee M Bimoljit, former MP Dr T Meinya, former Director, School of Environmental Studies, Jadavpur University late Dr Dipankar Chakraborti, CEO CGH Earth Group Jose Dominic, former MU Chancellor Prof PN Srivastava, renowned writer Moirangthem Inao, Prof YS Rajan and delegates of World Youth Summit 2015 .

Threats
Amidst the successes ADAM has so far achieved, there are many threats that Angaan Ching Eco-Park continue to face.

Besides forest fire, infrastructure development works near the park are a threat.

The park had lost a number of trees when a 33/11 KV power station was installed at the foothill.

"Development is inevitable and many more infrastructure would come in Angaan Ching's way in future.

ADAM hopes that development should take into account the aspect of environmental conservation," Surjit said.

"Development at the expense of nature will be a disaster.

They should complement each other and exist together for sustainable development and cope with the rising global warming," he added expressing ADAM's objective to develop the park into a favourite tourist destination for nature lovers.