The Phase-II Go Green Initiative Program, a joint effort between LEMSACHENLOK and Tata Motors Ltd., was formally launched at Pholok, Sanglu Village, Longleng district on Tuesday. Deputy Commissioner of Longleng, W Manpai Phom (NCS), launched the program in the presence of Yanger (NPS), Superintendent of Police, Longleng.
Speaking at the launch, DC W Manpai Phom lauded the initiative, extending his “best wishes towards Team LEMSACHENLOK for their Go-Green initiatives in targeting to plant some 10 lakh saplings during the Phase-II plantation drive with 12 communities spread over 2 to 3 districts.”
He noted that while people have begun to recognize the importance of tree plantation in recent years, “it takes lots of effort for its sustenance and maintenance.” He urged community members to develop a “sense of ownership and to understand the main purpose of planting trees.”
Calling LEMSACHENLOK’s efforts “a very practical and scientific approach,” he said such interventions are “very noble which all must learn.” Phom remarked that Longleng is “so fortunate to have a society working towards the welfare of the people” and assured that the district would “provide full cooperation and support towards the society” considering its “radical approach towards biodiversity conservation with deeper intervention of improving the ecosystem.”
Superintendent of Police Yanger also addressed the gathering, commending the organisation’s sustained conservation work. “People who plant trees are contributing globally,” he said. Acknowledging the challenges of plantation work, he encouraged the team to “never give up and continue with their noble work,” assuring full support from his department.
Dr Y Nuklu Phom, Chairman and Team Leader of LEMSACHENLOK, emphasized the evolving meaning of conservation. “For some time the term ‘conservation’ has been perceived as reserving a forest and banning hunting,” he said. “While these activities cannot be ignored, conservation today has larger embedded obligation.”
He pointed out that, despite awareness campaigns and programs, “our climate is becoming worse threatening human existence. Our ecosphere is not getting better, our orchards are invaded by alien pest and insects, our productions are going low, our ancestral ponds and wells are getting dried, and we continue to struggle with many new diseases.”
“These are some very alarming issues people have been facing,” he said, explaining that LEMSACHENLOK’s response has been to “take up micro steps to address the core threats toward biodiversity conservation by diagnosing the threat and usher prescriptive and preventive measures.”
Outlining the organisation’s strategies, Dr Phom said, “LEMSACHENLOK’s endeavour towards biodiversity conservation is cradled around identifying resources and resource mapping, preparing management plans, camera trapping exercise, preparing people’s biodiversity register, development of digitalized portal exercises, developing land use policies with improved, innovative, integrated, scientific and sustainable livelihoods for communities, create landscape peace corridors and trans-border biodiversity corridors to fashion augmented and improved ecosphere for harmonious coexistence.”
He added that the organization has been focusing on the “regeneration of fallow lands in collaboration with different partners aiming to integrate ecological balance with sustainable community development,” and aligning efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Under its Redeeming Eden venture with MissioEcology, the team has selected 26 plant species with 6–7 species prioritized for plantation. These include:
· Fast-growing trees
· Trees that filter pollutants and release oxygen
· Fruit-bearing trees for human consumption and income
· Fruit-bearing trees for wildlife sustenance and seed dispersal
· Herbal and medicinal species
· Nitrogen-fixing species
· Groundwater and water table recharging species
Dr. Phom stated that since 2024, LEMSACHENLOK, in collaboration with Tata Motors Ltd., has initiated plantation drives “cradled around these important factors” and that the initiative also aims to “facilitate communities towards community-based income-generating activities.” This year, the organisation will work with 12 communities.
He expressed heartfelt gratitude to DC Phom and SP Yanger “for doing the honour of launching the ceremonial plantation drive.” Their presence, he said, “has not only added immense value to the event but also inspired collective responsibility towards environmental conservation.”
He also thanked the community for their cooperation and appreciated “the committed at LEMSACHENLOK for their conviction and giving their full commitment towards community sustainable livelihoods and safeguarding the biodiversity towards harmonious coexistence.”