Saturday 5 January 2019
Meeting for stake holders of Bishnupur district held
Bishnupur, January 05 2019: A district level stake holders meeting to publicize the new initiatives of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) under the scheme "Environmental Information System (ENVIS)" was held in the Conference Hall of Mini-Secretariat, Bishnupur today at 1.30 pm.
Speaking at the occasion as a resource person, Dr L Bijen Meitei, Co-ordinator of Manipur ENVIS Hub stated that the schemes "Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP)", "Grid Based Decision Support System (GRIDSS)" and "Building Community Driven Environmentally Sustainable Villages (CESVP)" will address skill gaps through Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP), bridge environment data gaps and facilitate communities to engage in environment conservation and management.
The event organized by ENVIS Hub, Manipur was also attended by Deputy Commissioner of Bishnupur Pawan Yadav, Superintendent of Police Hobson Sapam and several DLOs among others.
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Wednesday 4 July 2018
Monday 2 July 2018
Migratory bird (Shiri) visit increases manifold, leave Ukhrul district ahead of departure time by Mungchan Zimik
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| Migratory bird Shiri (Grey Sided Thrush) |
The migratory birds which originated from Siberia were sighted at around early 1970s in the Shirui mountain ranges and the poaching & trapping of this migratory Shiri birds became so popular and turns into conventional customary practices of many villages because of its peculiar taste and delicacies as stated by the native villagers.
This particular migratory bird swarm in the Shirui mountain range in Ukhrul district in the winter looking for food, mainly the tree seed of Leihao (Magnalia Champaca tree) locally known as Shirung thei.
The birds start to flock the dense forest from the first week of December onwards till January end. But this year the migratory birds have started leaving Shirui mountain range early, unlike previous years.
Although, there was sufficient Shirung thei ( Leihao seed) in the forest yet the Migratory birds started to leave the district early possibly due to environmental disturbances of extensive hunting carried out by the villager and destroying of their habitation or shelter for wanton selling of the birds flesh at Ukhrul market for its delicacies and demands.
It might be mentioned that the Shirui mountain range forest area covers approximately 20 square kilometres, where the Migratory birds came looking for food in this dense forest of abundant Leihao trees. This whole territory was declared as protected Shirui reserve forest by the Manipur government 20 years back. This reserve forest covered the adjoining neighbouring area villages like Khangkhui, Zingsui, Mapum, Lunghar etc.
The migratory birds flock into this notified territory of protected forest yet their is uncontrolled and merciless open hunting or trapping of the bird. It may be mentioned that the declared protected Shirui forest is just 25 kilometres away from district headquarter, Ukhrul. At the same time Shirui hill is also the abode of state flower Shirui Lily where it flourish as the only natural habitat.
The area villagers, observing the huge increase in the number of the migratory bird in the Shirui mountain range, carried out extensive hunting, killing the migratory birds in thousands for consumption and selling in the market. Moreover Shiri is a preferred food item for the people in Ukhrul district.
The hunters use anything they can lay their hands on, ranging from catapult, air gun, SBBL rifle and the locally made adhesive 'Nei' which is used to trap the birds.Nei is prepared from the fruits of a particular tree found atop the Shirui mountain range.
During a brief interaction with some of the native villagers, Ami said that Shiri bird have three varieties (Shiri Mapom, Shiri Khakazek and Shiri Luishi) among which Shiri Mapom was the biggest while Shiri Khakazek lead in the migration of the birds as observed during migration.
The Shirui mountain range covers Shirui, Khangkhui Khunou, Khangkhui Khullen, Sihai, Mapum, Lunghar, Zingsui, Khamasom etc, where the migratory bird Shiri takes shelter during the winter for short vacation.Leihao tree (Magnolia champaca) grow thickly on this mountain range and so do other fruit bearing trees.
It is the fruits of these trees that Shiri comes to feed as nourishing diet for the birds to grow healthy.
According to some of the hunters, after feeding on the seed fruit of Leihao the birds drink water from the nearby stream and it is while drinking water that the bird can be easily trapped using the local adhesive Nei.
This year, the number of Shiri was so huge that a hunter could collect 300 or more birds from a particular area on a single day. Another Shiri hunter, Zimik ( name changed) said he managed to shoot at least 70 Shiris this year using his catapult or air gun.
Trading of this migratory bird becomes a very popular and lucrative job for many of them to earn income.They mentioned that they could manage to sell Shiri at the rate of Rs 100 per bird.
Another villager name Athar could manage to trap the migratory birds as many as he could in a way of conventional trapping method called " Raphit kasang". He could manage to trap more than 100 birds. He further adds that in a week, he could earned more than Rs 7000 by selling the birds.
Not surprisingly, the indiscriminate killing of the migratory bird for the table and the deforestation of Shirui mountain range has drastically reduced the population of the migratory bird in a short span of its vacation at Ukhrul.
Another peculiar development is the point that the migratory bird has left the mountain range earlier than the normal departure time. Usually Shiri leaves the place by the last week of January but this year they have started leaving earlier, said the villagers.
According to Tharmi, Shiri departure is very unique and symbolic for them. Usually prior to her leaving of Shirui hills, mild shower marks its departure, after which Shiri will no more be visible in the forest area.
In an interaction to a woman who sell the migratory bird door to door in Ukhrul town, she asserted that there were no restrictions from the Forest department although she cross in forest check point in the midway carrying the birds. She stated that it was preferred by all. She further mentioned that none of the villages were sensitized on wildlife protection or killing of wild animals by the Forest department and importance of wild life preservation is ignorant for them.
Until there are specific rules and regulations to ban using of airgun in the district, the trend of drastic reduction of birds population will remain the same.
Monday 18 December 2017
Unexplored Piulong's beauty may disappear
Piulong a mountain peak valley amidst of having tremendous potential for being a tourist hub such as meadow, cave, waterfall, river, stream, foot print and snowfall is yet to be developed as popular destination for nature lovers. The rare wild lily bloom in PiulongVillage Meadow in on the apprehension of extinction as villagers practices wild fire every year.
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| Piulong village meadow |
In the valley, there are around 30 tiny mounts/hills. Witnessing the nature's beauty from the watch tower build up on one of the top of these tiny mounts is an immense life time experience for the visitors. The valley has main 7 streams as tributaries of Agaki River, which is the perennial source of water especially for Tamei and surrounding villages. Agaki River has formed a waterfall that can be seen from the approaching road to Piulong village on Imphal-Tamenglong Road.
The waterfall is just about few km from the village but the way connecting to the waterfall is not properly develop, therefore it may miss out by the travellers. Agaki River is well maintained by Piulong villagers and some part of the river which has a depth of about 10meter is utilising as fish farm. The river has abandoned of many rare indigenous fish including "Nungnga" and "Ngapun" . Other fish varieties weighing 3 to 5 kg was also found in this clean river.
The valley has also a cave "Chelenki Cave" in western part of the valley where many bats are available. On the way towards the cave there is a foot print marked on the big flat stone which is presumed to be of the then unknown "Meitei King" of Manipur. Apart from the scenic beauty of Piulong Valley, the Piulong Village that houses about 50 number having the total population of about 500 from three different communities residing in the Piulong Village are Chawang, Pamei and Newmai maintain harmony and a peaceful live. The warm and friendly behaviour of the villagers added the beauty of the valley.
The main source of income for livelihood is agriculture. They practice Jhum cultivation, piggery, dairy, domestic poultry, sell lychen and wood logs. The villagers gutted fired the meadow every year in winter days as a mechanism to counter forest wild fire. Burning of dried herbs and bush may lead to extinction of rare wild lily and terrestrial orchid which are not widely known to many adventure tourists. The connecting road to village from Kabonram which is about only 3 km is in pathetic condition. It results to take more than an hour by foot. The particular road could be claim as motorable but the driver and passenger have to take risk of live, if opted vehicular ride. Therefore, the necessity to promote tourism is the need of the hour to cope up the exploitation of nature's beauty of Piulong Valley.
It would be more interesting to the tourist or visitor to experience the house build up on the flat rock, thatched huts, sandy nature road, wooden bridges, wooden fence houses and boundaries, the church bell, nomenclatures of the valley and village, the tree buds used as spoon and household decorative items, favourable weather to fruit apple, mosquito free home, pond on the hill and lots more after having a visit to this unexplored nature' gifted beauty valley.
Author : Maisnam Nongpokngamba
Sunday 5 June 2016
Observance of World Environment Day 2016
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| Source: ENVIS CENTRE, MANIPUR |
Today, World Environment Day 2016 celebrated at MFDC, Imphal with a UN theme “GO WILD FOR LIFE” and slogan “Zero
Tolerance For the Illegal Wildlife Trade”.
Department
of Forests & Environment, Govt. of Manipur observed this day by joining
hand with various departments and NGOs in Manipur.
Shri I.
Hemochandra Singh, Hon’ble Minister (Forests & Envt., Revenue, Law &
Legislative Affairs),Shri Shambhu Singh, IAS, Addl. Chief Secretary, Govt. of
Manipur, Shri P.N. Prasad, IFS, PCCF & HOFF, Govt. of Manipur, Shri K.
Angami, IFS, PCCF (Wildlife), Govt. of Manipur and Dr M. Homeshwor Singh,
Director, Directorate of Environment, Govt. of Manipur present at the
function as Chief Guest, President & Guests of Honour, respectively.
Dr. M.
Homeshwor Singh, Director, Directorate of Environment stated that
The day is celebrated to raise global awareness about the significance of healthy environment and to solve various environmental issues by implementing actions to protect Nature and Earth, leading to a positive healthy environment for all.
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Tuesday 24 May 2016
Observance of International Day for Biological Diversity 2016
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| Environment & Forest Minister I Hemochandra inaugurated the Photo exhibition organised by ENVIS Centre, Manipur |
International Biodiversity Day this time is observed under the theme Mainstreaming Biodiversity; Sustaining People and their Livelihoods. Even May 22 is observed as Biodiversity Day with the aim to halting biodiversity loss. Biodiversity is the foundation for life and for the essential services provided by ecosystems. It therefore underpins peoples’ livelihoods and sustainable development in all areas of activity, including economic sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism, among others.
As part of the observation ceremony held at the Manipur State Film Development Society's auditorium, a photo exhibition hosted by the Envis Centre Manipur, under the aegis of Directorate of Environment. Comprising 175 photos, the exhibiton depicted the rich biodiversity of Manipur. Photographs of medicinal plants, birds, snakes, orchids are also on display.
Manipur is one of the richest Indian state in terms of biodiversity. The state is rich in natural resources with vast and varied floral heritage. Many of the flora and fauna species of animals found in Manipur are endemic such as Siroi Lily and Sangai, the brow-antlered Deer. Sadly, in the state’s annual budget, Forest & Environment dept’s joint allocation put together do not account for even one percentage.
Stated Dr. Homeshwar Singh, director, Directorate of Environment of the government of Manipur. His statement not only indicates how constrain the dept is in terms of doing many of the things it is mandated to do in terms of preserving and conserving the state’s rich bio-diversity. Read more
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