Concern raised over depleting forest cover
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 21 2024:
The State Forest Department observed the International Day of Forest at the Forest Complex, Mantripukhri today.
Notably, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 21 as the International Day of Forest in 2012 and this year's theme is "Forest and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World" .
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Special Secretary (Forest) RK Amarjit said that the State's forest cover declined from 78 per cent in 1987 to 74.34 per cent in 2021 .
According to the data provided by the Forest Survey of India, Manipur has lost more than 40 forest areas which were as large as Langol reserved forest between 1987 and 2021, he said.
Disappearance of such large forest areas is a matter of grave concern and it demands immediate and effective intervention, he said.
The Special Secretary (Forest) asserted that the primary message of the International Day of Forest is conservation of forests.
"We would be doing a grave injustice to the future generations if we do not conserve forests", he said.
Amarjit pointed out that conservation of forests requires collective efforts of JFMC, local clubs, Meira Paibis and the public.
Researchers and academicians too must contribute to these collective efforts, he added.
Whatever forests that exist under different forest divisions of Manipur are now properly maintained and one major factor for this positive development is the involvement of local people in forest management, he said.
People now have a strong sense to control and contain forest fires whenever such fires break out.
There were instances of local people controlling and dousing forest fires even before the arrival of Forest staff, he said.
Amarjit said that the incidents of forest fires are quite low this year.
Stating that no one can survive without water, the Special Secretary (Forests) averred that conservation of forests and environment is an indispensable duty of every citizen.
Deputy Conservator of Forest Siba Jeemy, DFO (Soil & Water Conservation Div II) Aneet Kaler, DFO (Soil & Water Conservation Div I) Kanthala Vijay Sahebrao, DFO (Urban Forestry Div) M Wungrin Zamsing, DCF (Park & Sanctuary) Vikram Suresh Nadhe, DFO Kangpokpi Amandeep, DFO (Research) S Rebika, Associate Prof Dr N Sarita of Department of Environmental Science, DMU, Assistant Professor Dr Sadananda of Deen Dayal College of Forestry and Prof Vivek Baishman were also present at the International Day of Forest observation.