Mokokchung Forest Division officials along with the participants during the World Environment Day 2026 programme held Changtongya Old Village in Mokokchung on June 3.
Mokokchung, June 4 (MExN): Mokokchung Forest Division organised a sensitisation programme on biodiversity conservation at Changtongya Old Village as part of the observance of World Environment Day 2026, highlighting the importance of community participation in sustainable forest management and environmental protection.
The programme, held on June 3 under the Forest and Biodiversity Management in the Himalaya (Nagaland) Project (FBMP), brought together participants from the Batch-II project villages of Unger, Akhoya, Changtongya Old and Nukshiyim.
The FBMP, co-financed by the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW Development Bank, aims to strengthen biodiversity conservation and improve community livelihoods through sustainable management of forest resources.
The event was chaired by Mangli Jamir, while the invocation was pronounced by Home Evangelist Salomi Jamir.
Delivering the keynote address, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) and officer in-charge of Changtongya Beat, Moamongba, underscored the crucial role of communities in biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management. He called for collective responsibility in safeguarding ecosystems and strengthening grassroots conservation efforts.
As part of the programme, Unger Village presented a special item, followed by a speech competition based on the World Environment Day 2026 theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.”
Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Changtongya, Sangpangchang Longkumer, attended the programme as the guest of honour and urged participants to work collectively towards environmental protection and sustainable development.
The programme also featured project experience-sharing sessions. Representatives of the Nukshiyim Community Conserved Area (CCA) shared details of their conservation activities, while the Akhoya CCA presented insights gained during a recent exposure visit. Organisers said the sessions enabled participants to exchange knowledge and learn from successful conservation initiatives.
A drawing competition for students on the World Environment Day theme had been conducted ahead of the main event. Winners of both the speech and drawing competitions were announced during the programme by Moamongba.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Forester-I Imemakok, followed by a community lunch.
According to the organisers, the observance reaffirmed the commitment of participating villages, community institutions and the Forest Department towards biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management, while underscoring the importance of community involvement in addressing environmental challenges.
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