KOKRAJHAR, March 25— Realising an urgent need to protect Katrigacha Reserve Forest under Dhubri district territorial division from rapid destruction of primary forests as well as ‘Golden Langur’ habitat in the area, ‘green heart’ a nature conservation society of North-east involving villagers of the fringe area for forest conservation.
As a part of their activity, a meeting was held with the villagers of Boro Gandrabil of Kokrajhar district at Dwimalu club-cum-library premises with DP Bankhowal, IPS, Conservator of Forests, Western Assam Circle as the chief guest and BN Patiri, divisional forest officer, Social Forestry and Wildlife Division, Kokrajhar as the guest of honour for the meeting.
Bablu Dey, director, Green Heart explained the objective of the meeting which was primarily to achieve success in the efforts of forest conservation in the area with special focus on Golden langur habitat conservation with community involvement through joint forest management.
Mentioning a few activities and pilot survey by ‘Green Heart’ in this regard, Dey emphasized for some strong departmental as well as community initiatives of prevent mainly the huge illegal extraction of trees specially the sal regeneration as also Golden langur food and roosting plants. He therefore appealed to all in the meeting for responding wholeheartedly in the joint forest management (JFM) process of the Govt of Assam in the genuine cause of forest conservation, preservation of Golden langur habitat and induction of alternative income generation measures for subsistence of the poor villagers to check immediate pressure on the existing forests in this area.
DP Bankhowal, Conservator of Forest, Western Assam circle in his speech explained the concept of joint forest management to the villagers and the govt effort to some amendments in the existing JFM Rules, 1998 in the State of Assam. He also elaborated on the success rates at West Bengal and Rajasthan.
He highlighted, some meaningful efforts of ‘Green Heart’ Kokrajhar specially in the areas of Nayekgaon, Chakrasilla and Ultapani areas for forest conservation along with preservation of ‘Golden langur’ habitat in this area. At the same time he appreciated the move of ‘Green Heart’ in motivating the people of Boro Gendrabil village in the similar way through such contact programme.
In selfless institutional development in co-ordinating and convincing villagers for the success of joint forest management in any area. Bankhowal further reveals that the villagers should take an active role in helping the departmental authorities in the process of forest protection. He also hoped that along with the possible alternative income generation avenues and the honest participation of villagers in proper direction in line with the prescribed provision of joint forest management rules would certainly justify formation of joint forest management committee with the villagers of Boro Gendrabil.
BN Patiri, DFO, in his speech expressed satisfaction over the effort of Green Heart and also referred points of earlier discussion along with the villagers in presence of the members of Green Heart. He reiterated his earlier suggestion for alternative income generation in private land and community land in the village through improved agricultural methods including sericulture for which necessary training may be organised from time to time in co-ordinating other department and development agencies and personnel from different fields to improve economic conditions of villagers.
An interaction session was also held on the occasion. On the interaction session with the villagers. Patiri replied to the questions regarding the formation of joint forest management with the villagers of Bodo Gendrabil with due responsibilities of villagers and the necessity of preserving the wildlife in this area connecting Chakrasila Wildlife Sanctuary along with the need for Golden Langur habitat conservation with the help of ‘Green Heart’ and Department of Forests among others for all round development of this neglected area.
In his presidential speech, Banaswar Basumatary, village headman of Boro Gendrabil requested the departmental authority to take necessary initiative in forming JFMC with the villagers of Boro Gendrabil in view of the urgent necessity to check and protect a substantial part of Katrigacha RF from further destruction. PK Aditya of Green Heart, Millon Basumatary, Sundar Sing Basumatary, Ratan Narzary amongst others spoke on the occasion.