Arunachal: Lowangdong seeks researchers’ help to reduce human-animal conflict
ITANAGAR: Advisor to the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister, Wanglin Lowangdong, urged researchers to undertake meaningful studies to mitigate human-animal conflicts and contribute to sustainable conservation strategies.
Addressing the inaugural day of a two-day seminar organised by the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change here on Friday, he said that Arunachal is a developing state with several infrastructure projects underway, which have resulted in a rise in human-elephant conflict in recent years.
Lowangdong cited the recent incident in Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary and the increasing instances of human-elephant conflicts reported from different parts of the state.
The seminar is being organised to review research activities undertaken by researchers across the state for informed policy formulation and effective conservation planning in the future.
Highlighting the immense potential for research activities in Arunachal, he said that the state’s forest cover is around 80 per cent of its geographical area, making it one of the most ecologically significant regions in the country.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests P Subramanyam said that wider and interdisciplinary research would greatly help in formulating a robust wildlife conservation policy and strengthen environmental governance in the state.
PCCF (Wildlife & Biodiversity) and Chief Wildlife Warden Samuel Changkija emphasised the need for researchers to focus on emerging and unexplored areas of wildlife research.
“Arunachal Pradesh is home to 14 wildlife sanctuaries, many of which remain data deficient in terms of scientific documentation and biodiversity studies,” Changkija said. He urged the researchers to continue their dedicated efforts towards generating scientific knowledge that would support meaningful conservation policy development in the state.
The seminar is being attended by researchers from the Zoological Survey of India, WWF-India, Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, Rajiv Gandhi University, forest officials, conservationists, academicians, and students.
