Peren, 3 October (MTNews): A significant milestone was reached as the Nagaland Forest Department and 16 neighboring villages encircling the 202-square-kilometer Intanki National Park in Peren district formalized a four-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This MoU signifies a joint commitment to protect the park’s pristine forests and diverse wildlife.
The agreement was formalized under the leadership of the new Commissioner and Secretary of Nagaland Forests, Environment, and Climate Change Department, Y Kikheto Sema during the Wildlife Week celebration, centered on the theme “Partnerships for Wildlife Protection,” at the Intanki National Park Protection Camp within the park on Tuesday, 3 October, 2023.
During the occasion, Commissioner and Secretary Sema appealed to all stakeholders, including district administrations, the forest department, and the public, to unite in protecting and conserving not just Intanki National Park but also the entire state’s forests and wildlife for the sake of future generations. Sema underscored the importance of community and individual support, especially considering that only five percent of Nagaland’s land belongs to the state government, while the rest is in the hands of the public.
It may be noted that the Intanki National Park is currently grappling with issues like land encroachment, deforestation, and illegal hunting. However, the park serves as a habitat for various endangered species, including wild buffaloes, hoolock gibbons, elephants, tigers and many more.
In the MoU, the village chairmen affirmed to cooperate with the state government and the department for the protection of the park and its biodiversity for the greater cause of the future generation. They also resolved to refrain from hunting/poaching and other destructive activities in the national park and also imposed prohibition orders in their respective villages banning hunting and other activities not permitted by law.
It was also resolved to cooperate with the department in its policies and programs in management of the park and share information of relevance willingly to either party.
Additionally, both parties resolved to collaborate on the park’s management policies and programs and willingly share relevant information. The department, in turn, pledged to initiate eco-development activities in the surrounding villages, including enhancing livelihoods and employment prospects for local youth through training and human resource development programs.