Minister Mama Natung urges Forest officials to be more vigilant

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ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Environment and Forest Minister Mama Natung on Tuesday asked the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) to be more vigilant, proactive and exemplary as public servants.

Conducting a review meeting of the senior offers of the department here, the Minister stated that the State is endowed with 'nature-culture' legacy, for which participation of local stakeholders is crucial to carry out conservation practices in the State.

"Owing to the Arunachal Prdesh's exceptional biodiversity, the State receives the highest devolution share due to its forest cover. The department should continue its focus on protection, preservation and sustainable management of the nature's bounty — the diverse flora and fauna," stressed the Minister and urged all to emphasise on research prospects.

Recalling his recent e-launch on the 'Red List Assessment of Orchids of Arunachal Pradesh' in collaboration with the 'International Union for Conservation of Nature' (IUCN), Natung expressed his happiness that the State with more than 600 orchid species would be on the 'Global Orchid Map'.

"Arunachal Pradesh is also tagged as the 'Orchid Paradise in India'," he added.

On the occasion, the Minster released 'A field manual on Nursery Management and Cultivation of Paris polyphylla (Satwa) and Tinosporacordifolia (Giloe)' and a leaflet on 'Sustainable Harvest Protocol of Selected Medicinal Plants of Arunachal Pradesh'.

While speaking on the occasion, Advisor to the Minister, KumsiSidisow emphasized on the development of a roadmap on eco-tourism, commercialization of orchids and medicinal plants for economic uplift of the people.

Lawmaker HayengMangfi stressed that plantations should be one of the prime focus to be taken up through CAMPA funds.

Principal Chief Conservator of forest (PCCF) R K Singh in his inaugural speech briefed the Minister on strengths and weakness of the department. The PCCF highlighted the shortage of manpower in the department — at the administrative and also at the field level, and stated that over the last few decades, there has been no additional creation of posts in forest guard to range forest officer-level whereas the department has created more than 12 divisions in last 10 years.

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