Environment destruction is mankind's biggest challenge: DC Tayi Taggu

PASIGHAT: The Deputy Commissioner of the Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, Tayi Taggu on Sunday said that environmental destruction is the biggest challenge faced by mankind today and cautioned that "nature destroys those who destroy nature".

Addressing a day-long orientation for deterring wildlife crime and reducing wildlife trade vis-à-vis the D'Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary near here, the Deputy Commissioner said that it was essential to strike a balance between the human population and the forest areas for survival of the human race.

The orientation meeting was organized jointly by the authority in D'Ering Memorial WLS and the country's frontline research-based biodiversity conservation organization, Aaranyak, in association with Eco Development Committee (EDC), D'Ering. It orientation meeting was supported by the US Fish and Wildlife Services and attended by forest staff of the WLS and local community representatives.

Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Commissioner of the Roing district of Arunachal Pradesh, Soumya Saurabh highlighted how the frontier State of Arunachal Pradesh serves as the lungs for the entire country. She said that the pristine natural environment must be preserved for the future generations and the traditions like hunting should be changed gradually so as to accommodate increasing human population and prevent illegal transport of wildlife. She appreciated Aaranyak's efforts to hold such an orientation session in the far-flung D'Ering WLS on wildlife crime mitigation and conservation of nature.

Gracing the orientation workshop as the chief guest, MLA of the area Ninong Ering appealed for continuous support from villagers for sustainable conservation of D'Ering Memorial WLS, which is rich in biodiversity. The MLA pledged all possible support from his end.

The secretary general and the CEO of Aaranyak, Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, deliberated on the importance of D'Ering WLS in terms of availability of water and human health. Underlining the need for conservation of wildlife, Dr Talukdar flagged the important role the community can play in assisting the enforcement agencies to mitigate wildlife crime in the greater interest of human health and well-being on this planet. Addressing the orientation, Dr Jimmy Borah, senior manager of Legal and Advocacy Division (LAD) of Aaranyak, raised the alarm on how trafficking of wildlife transmit deadly zoonotic diseases among the human population. He, therefore, called upon the community and the enforcement agencies to establish a synergy to prevent wildlife crimes and illegal trade in wildlife, that have reached an alarming proportion globally.

The divisional forest officer and the ranger of D'Ering WLS and Range officer were present in the workshop throughout and spoke on the importance of the WLS from the biodiversity point of view and the importance of community support in preserving these bio-resources for the coming generations.

Daying Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary is located 13 kms from Pasighat and is an abode for different species of plants, wild animals, trees and birds. It is home to two of the great cats - the tiger and the leopard - besides endangered takin, hoolock gibbon, red panda, slow loris and capped langur. Wild buffaloes, wild elephants etc., too are found in abundance. The sanctuary is home to a species of resident birds like Bengal Florican and is flocked by different species of migrating birds.

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