TURA, APR 8: A modest gathering of people at Rongjeng in East Garo Hills on Friday pledged to fight increasing destruction of forest in Garo hills.
The pledge was taken at an awareness programme organised by several ngos of the region, including Garo Students Union (GSU), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), All A’chik Youth Federation (AAYF), amongst others.
Speaking at the programme, range forest officer of Simsanggre Chisaka Ch. Marak said,“Garo hills faces a challenge of rampant destruction of prime forest. This needs to be stopped”. He urged the people to cooperate with the forest administration to ensure that felling of trees is put to an end.
He explained to the crowd the effects of climate change and degradation of environment, which has posed a threat for the very existence of human beings.
“Garo hills is losing its green cover very fast. All of us have to be conscious enough to fight back against the dual menace of illegal timber smuggling and wanton destruction of forests, we cannot complain of climate change. We have to fight back”, said Theju Marak, a youth activist from Rongjeng.
An activist of Centre for Environment Protection and Rural Development (CEPARD) Samgar Sangma spoke at length on global climate change. He said, “Our rivers are drying up and if we continue, the trend as it is now, there will be nothing left to drink. India, as a member of COP 21 will be doing its best to reduce carbon emissions and we as a part of the country will need to do our bit to halt climate change”.
“Elephants use to pass the route from Wageasi to Rongjeng. We had to drive cautiously as we had to avoid the herds of elephants. Today, we hardly seen any elephants in the area”, said an elderly, who attended the awareness programme.
A resident of Jambal village, near Rongjeng told the gathering that few years’ ago they faced the problem of timber smugglers. “We decided to come together in unison and brought to task the smugglers. We have managed to save our forest”, said Auline D. Sangma, principal of Jambal Upper Primary School.
The gathering also took an initiative to plant trees at Rongjeng after the awareness programme.- From Our Correspondent
+ There are no comments
Add yours