The
International Day for Biological Diversity-2014 was celebrated by Arunachal
Pradesh Biodiversity Board, Itanagar with the financial support from National
Biodiversity Authority, Chennai. The programme
was held at D. Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary, Borguli, Pasighat with the
theme “Island Biodiversity”. The D. Ering Memorial Wildlife
Sanctuary is large alluvial grassland comprises of several river island formed
between river Siang and Sibia. The significance of the sanctuary is that it is
the only sanctuary of its kind in Arunachal Pradesh. The item wise programme of
the celebration is as follows;
Trekking
in the Sanctuary: Trekking programme inside the sanctuary was
conducted in the morning session. The BMC Chairman and Member from other
districts of the state show special interest in the trekking. Pugmarks of
different wildlife species were observed during trekking. The DFO of the
Sanctuary Mr. Tashi Mize brief the participants about the wildlife and its
management in the sanctuary. D. Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary being an
island sanctuary the participants enters the sanctuary with the help of small diesel
engine boat maintained by sanctuary authority. The trekking inside the sanctuary
was arranged to give firsthand experience about the wildlife from close range
to the participants.
Trekking team in D. Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary
Inaugural
session of IDB-2014: The programme was held in a Borguli village adjacent
to the D. Ering Memorial Wildlife sanctuary. More than 300 representatives of
Eco-development Committees constituted in the fringe villages of the Island
Sanctuary, village Heads, NGO’s, BMC representatives from other districts,
Scholars, officials of the sanctuary and the elected representatives of village Panchayat and Zila parishad attended
the programme. The Addl. Deputy Commissioner of East Siang district Mr. Rajesh
Panyang attending the programme as Chief Guest instructed the local bodies to check
illegal activities like hunting of wildlife within their jurisdiction. He
requested the village authorities to coordinate with the district
administration as well as Forest department in safeguarding the biodiversity.
The Divisional Forest Officer of the sanctuary Mr. Tashi Mize, in his
impressive speech, said that plants and animals are the source of human
survival. Every living creatures found in the surrounding have role in the
ecosystem as they are confined to an interrelation. Terming the forest officials
as “chowkidar” of the forest resources, the DFO lamented that the local people,
who are said to be owner of the resources have not taken keen interest for
their protection. The village heads, representatives of NGO’s and many other
participants speak on the occasion and assure to play pivotal role in
Biodiversity conservation.

Inaugural session of IDB-2014
Signing
on the pledge for life: A high resolution banner with the title “Pledge for
life” was installed in the hall. The participant of the programme signed in the
pledge to promote conservation and sustainable management of biological
resources, to ensure life on earth is secure and safe and to educate people on
the benefits of conservation, use and benefit sharing actions.
Participants signing on Biodiversity pledge
Release
of stickers on State Flora and Fauna: In the inaugural session the Chief Guest releases
four stickers on State Flora and Fauna. The stickers were on the state animal
of Arunachal Pradesh, the Hollock Gibbon; State bird of Arunachal Pradesh, the
great Indian Hornbill (Buceros bicornis);
State flower of Arunachal Pradesh, the foxtail orchid (Rhynchostylis retusa) and State fish of Arunachal Pradesh, the
Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora). The
stickers were distributed to all the participants.
Chief Guest releasing the stickers on state flora and fauna
Group
discussion on Biodiversity Management Committee: The post lunch session started with the discussion
on formation of Biodiversity Management Committees. Dr. Kenjum Bagra, of the
State Biodiversity Board narrated in detail about the BMC. Participating in the
discussion, the DFO of the sanctuary, Mr. Tashi Mize proposed for a separate
meeting with village Panchayat for BMC formation. The house agreed on his
proposal and accordingly a tentative programme for the meeting at Panchayat
level was worked out.
Dr. Kenjum Bagra initiating the Group discussion on BMC
Technical
session: The technical session received wide attention from the
participants. Dr. Senpe Taipodia a Medical officer of the nearby hospital
briefed on the wild medicinal plants available in the region and its
importance. He opined that routine intake of these medicinal plant will keep
them healthy. He advises to conserve the medicinal plants for future
generation. Mr. Hari Loyi, a faculty in Botany from J.N. College Pasighat dwelt
detail about impact of hunting. He suggested for a change in the pattern of
ritualistic hunting. Dr. Kento Kadu, faculty in Zoology from J.N. College
Pasighat presented the aquatic life scenario of the state. He discussed on the
unique aquatic life of the D. Ering Memorial Wildlife sanctuary. Mr. Temin
Payum, a faculty in Botany from J.N. College Pasighat with his audio visual
presentation illustrated how a downsizing of a single species affects the
entire food web. Dr. Kenjum Bagra of State Biodiversity Board speaks on the traditional
biodiversity conservation and the Biodiversity, Act. Impressive lectures and
audio visual presentation by the resource person convinced the participants to pledge
to devote some of their time for Biodiversity conservation.


Resource persons during technical session
Display
of poster: Banner
bearing slogan on Biodiversity conservation was displayed in every corner of
Pasighat town and on the way to D. Ering Memorial Wildlife sanctuary, Borguli
the celebration site. Posters on various wildlife species were displayed in the
celebration hall that makes local people curious knowing its habitat and
conservation management.