Keibul Lamjao tops UNESCO priorities
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 11 2011:
Keibul Lamjao National Park, the only natural habitat for the world famous brow antlered deer called Sangai is at the top of the proposed list of UNESCO for declaration as natural heritage site of the world, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Dr S Singsit has announced.
Speaking as chief guest at the occasion of releasing the wall calendar of Keibul Lamjao National Park published by Wildlife Wing of the Forest and Environment Department at the head office of the Department at Sanjenthong here today, Dr Singsit said that Keibul Lamjao National Park is at the top of the proposed list for declaration of world's natural heritage site by UNESCO.
Thus, Keibul Lamjao is going to become a world's natural heritage site sooner than later, he expressed optimism.
Chief Wildlife Warden of the Department A Kharshiing, who presided over the function, informed that steps have been taken up for deployment of staff of Wildlife Wing at the airport to check smuggling of wildlife and its products following report that such products are now being transported through aeroplane.
A joint meeting with officials of the Police Department had also been conducted earlier.
Observing that removal of Phumdis from the Park area would affect the natural habitat of Sangai and the Park would become nothing more than a lake, Kharshiing pointed out that during the reign of Manipur kings and even after the arrival of the British special care have been taken up for proliferation of Phumdis in Park area.
He further informed that a long term plan for development of the Park would be taken up from May this year.
It was a hard time for the officials and staff of the Department while UGs were taking shelter inside the Park, he recalled, while appealing to all for concerted efforts towards protection of Sangai.
Other officials of the Department were also present during the function.