ITANAGAR: In what may be termed as a success, the Pakke Tiger Reserve in the State was awarded with the India Biodiversity Awards 2016 during the International Day of Biological Diversity celebrations, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, National Biodiversity Authority and United Nations Development Program, India held in Mumbai.
Pekke Tiger Reserve received the India Biodiversity Awards 2016 on Hornbill Nest Adoption Program which was a collaboration between Ghora-Aabhe Society, Nature Conservation Foundation and the Forest Department of Pakke Tiger Reserve, informed Range Forest officer Kime Rambia. The award was under the category of “Conservation of threatened species.” The other categories were: sustainable use of biological resources, successful mechanism/models for access and benefit sharing and biodiversity management committees.
At this year’s event, the theme was ‘Mainstreaming Biodiversity: sustaining people and their livelihood.’ Prizes were given to awardees at a glittering ceremony held in Mumbai.
Tana Tapi, the Divisional Forest Officer of Pakke Tiger Reserve while talking to newsmen said, “Conservation can only happen with the support of local communities. The nest adoption program has been a milestone towards the conservation of the four hornbill species that are found in the adjoining areas of Pakke Tiger Reserve in East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.”
With this initiative, urban citizens have contributed immensely to protect hornbill nests around Pakke Tiger Reserve. The Ghora-Aabhe Society members have been conducting awareness meetings and various other activities towards safeguarding the hornbill species and its habitat.
At the award ceremony the conservation team was represented by Takam Nabam, Chairperson of Ghora-Aabhe Society and Chandan Ri, representative of the forest department, official sources informed.
While a memento and certificate of appreciation was received from Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Environment & Forest and Climate Change and C H Vidyasagar Rao, the Governor of Maharashtra.
“Our team faces stiff challenges on the ground and sometimes it can be tiring, but recognition like this gives us renewed energy,” said Takam Nabam.
source:northeasttoday