WED-2014: CCpur village pledges to stop hunting, felling trees
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, June 05 2014: A tribal village in Manipur observed this year's World Environment Day in a unique way by taking a voice pledge to stop felling of trees and also to stop the killing of wild animals with immediate effect.

Situated some 38 km to the south of state capital Imphal, Laimanai Kabui village, locally known as Chingpui in Churachandpur district observed World Environment Day along with officials of the State Government and various NGOs working in the field of environment protection.

Led by village headman D.H.Gachung, about 200 villagers stood up and pledged that "we will stop felling trees and stop killing wild animals from now on" .

Known for their love for hunting, tribals in Manipur cherish killing wild animals and the best hunters are respected by the people in any typical tribal village.

Discarding this old habit and approach, Laimanai Kabui village (Chingpui) today bade farewell to the traditional practice of hunting.

Though they are bound to exploit forest for their livelihood these villagers have pledged to replace 10 plants for every mature tree they fell.

Organised jointly by Department of Forest, Wild Life Wing (Manipur Government), Pole Star Guardian Association, Indian Birds Conservation Network (Manipur Chapter), Laimanai Village Authority in association with Centre for Conservation of Nature and Cultivation of Sciences, the event was participated by over 200 villagers and activists.

After taking the pledge, the participants also took out a rally in and around the village holding placards with slogans such as "Better Environment, Better Tomorrow", "Don't be mean, be green" etc.

Speaking on the occasion, R.K Birjit, State Co-ordinator of Indian Birds Conservation Network highlighted how the celebration of World Environment Day came into being in 1972 .

He said that in every 30 minutes two species are extinct from this planet.

At this rate, the health of the planet earth would be at stake soon.

L Joykumar (IFS), Deputy Conservator of Forest, Park and Sanctuary, explained the differences between global warming and climate change.

He also said that 190 sq.km of forest has become barren from between 2009 and 2011 and by 2050 the planet earth is bound to be a very sick planet if drastic measures are not taken to revert this negative trend.

The World Environment Day 2014 was also widely observed by several social organizations and Government agencies in different parts of the State on Thursday.

Participating as chief guest of World Environment Day observance held at the Observation Home of Social Welfare Complex, Takyel here, Social Welfare minister AK Mirabai said that the observance aimed at giving mass awareness to people on the need for protecting the environment and keep the increasing climate change in balance.

Mirabai observed the impact of global warming has reached its farthest point now due to unrestraint deforestation by people out of ignorance or carelessness.

Every section of the society should take part in this observance, the Minister exhorted and stressed on the importance of spreading knowledge on environment and educate children on the necessity for tree plantation in order to save the degrading ecological balance.

She suggested that besides all efforts a new policy can be formulated to make compulsory for every newly married couple to plant trees on the wedding day.

Mirabai said it is a good step to disseminate the knowledge and facts on the present ecological condition of the State to the young inmates of the Observation Home.

Th Mahendra Pratap Singh, Conservator of Forest, Central Forest Division, Manipur, who attended the event as guest of honour, said that this year's edition of the World Environment Day is celebrated under the international theme "Small Islands and Climate Change" with "Raise your Voice, Not the Sea Level" as official slogan.

Growing need and demand for more houses to live and more food to eat by people has become a big issue in the world which has to face the impact of the ever increasing global population, Mahendra remarked.

He said such growing challenges have forced people to indulge in various destructive activities posing threats to the environment.

Mahendra cautioned that large scale felling down of trees for various purposes has seriously threatened the ecological balance due to which many species of birds and animals are on the verge of extinction.

He suggested, "We must plant trees to address this problem" .

Saplings were planted at the Social Welfare Complex to mark the occasion.

Earlier in the day, Social Welfare minister AK Mirabai inaugurated a month-long mass sapling plantation programme to mark the World Environment Day 2014 at Patsoi Part-4 in Imphal West.

The programme is being organized under the aegis of Patsoi Gram Panchayat.

The Patsoi constituency MLA also laid a foundation stone for a local community hall at Patsoi Part-4 to mark the occasion.

Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) also marked the World Environment Day 2014 by organising a programme which included a one-day tree Plantation, a cycle rally and an awareness-giving function here.

Secretary to Governor and Commissioner, Art & Culture, RK Nimai flagged off the cycle rally from Keishampat Junction.

The rally participated by a number of people, including volunteers of DESAM travelled around Imphal city and finally culminated at Cheiraoching, Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai.

The awareness programme held under the theme "Environmental Literacy Campaign" was later organized at Cheiraoching where P Dhanakumar, Chairman of BSEM, Dr Naorem Sarita Devi, Assistant Professor of Department of Environmental Science, Ch Menaka Devi, Assistant Engineer, IMC, L Pratap, president, Naharol Leisemba Club, Gobi Sharma, secretary, Petal Attack and M Angamba Meitei, president, DESAM attended as presidium members.

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