Kohima, 3 November (MTNews): The Department of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change celebrated the 10th anniversary of Amur Falcon Conservation in Nagaland. The commemorative event took place at the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF) in Kohima.
Addressing the gathering, Commissioner and Secretary of the Department of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Kikheto Sema, highlighted that a decade ago, Nagaland assumed the responsibility of protecting one of the world’s most extraordinary avian wonders, the Amur Falcon. He noted that, despite Nagaland’s previous notoriety for the large-scale hunting of these birds, a concerted effort by the Forest Department, Village Councils of Pangti and Sungro, Churches, and the Wildlife Trust of India led to the declaration of a ban on hunting the Amur Falcon in 2013.
This successful conservation initiative garnered national and international attention, resulting in Nagaland being declared the “Falcon Capital of the World” on 6th November 2013. Kikheto expressed his gratitude for the contributions made by NGOs, Churches, and the department in safeguarding the Amur Falcon. He urged the people of the state to maintain this legacy as an example of community-driven conservation and ensure that Nagaland continues to be a sanctuary for the Amur Falcon.
The event featured addresses by key figures, including PCCF & HoFF Dhramendra Prakash, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden Vegpal Singh, DFO Wokha Suman W M Sivachar, and community representatives. In addition, the Wildlife Institute of India unveiled a report titled “Understanding the Amur Falcon: Their Stopover Sites in Nagaland and Their Migratory Routes for Better Conservation Planning.” Nagaland State Poster of State of India Bird was also released on the occasion.