Workshop on Conservation in Koyu

A day-long workshop on community-based conservation and sustainable development through community energy was organized at Koyu by Future Generations Arunachal (FGA) today. Gaon Buras (GBs), members of the women’s groups, school teachers and students attended the workshop.

The workshop focused on threats of global warming and role of communities in containing it using slides shows and documentaries on melting of snow in the Himalayas leading to rising sea level. If we do not take action now all coastal areas will be submerged and it will affect the people in the hills as well, informed Punyo Chada and Hibu Tatu, Green Teachers from Ngunu Ziro who were the resource persons.

The community participants and students prepared three months work plans for their respective areas which included tree plantation, flood control activities, maintenance of drains and cleanliness drives in the surrounding areas, controlling of wild animal hunting and deforestations.

Wild life and virgin forests could be used to promote eco-tourism and generate income for the people said Marte Koyu, vice Principal, Government Higher Secondary School, Koyu while participating in the program. He referred to many species like tigers, reindeers and hornbills which are almost extinct in Arunachal Pradesh because of human hunting. Earlier, Pura Aiya, Project Coordinator Best Practices of FGA highlighted about the works of the organization. He also explained the working methods of FGA based on SEED-SCALE process and urged the participants to get involved to create a better future.

Tajir Kakki (HGB) of Kakki village and Tunya Rina (GB) of Rina village distributed tree saplings provided by Pasighat Forest Division to the participants.

Students participated in Queen's Baton Relay

After much waiting for the Queen's Baton Relay in the Itanagar-Naharlagun city finally it arrived in the city on July 22, 2010 in a warm reception at Rajiv Gandhi stadium by minister's, Public and the huge gathering of school students from VKV, Nirjuli, Govt. ME. School, D & G Sector, Naharlagun holding banners and placard prepared by the students to pass the message on "Low Carbon Practices" to save our mother earth. Under Future Generations Arunachal, the selected school students were located along the Queen's Baton Relay Route from Naharlagun to Itanagar to cheer up, pass the message on Low Carbon practices through slogan, placards & banner and to get a chance to see the Baton closely. In Itanagar, Govt. ME school (P-sector), Kingcup Public school, Govt. ME school (Nitivihar), JNK public school, Green Mount school and Govt. Hr. sec. school took part in the Queen's Baton relay programme. The students community were very happy witnessing Baton and shaking hand with "Shera" the official mascot of XIX Commonwealth games 2010.

It may be mentioned that, Future Generations Arunachal (FGA) partnering with Center for Environment Education (CEE) involving the students from various schools to create an awareness on "Low Carbon Practices" to link with the Commonwealth Games which is scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 3-14 October 2010.

Environment Awareness Camp

It is not only our duty to contribute to world-wide efforts in containing global warming which threatens the very existence of life on earth, but also take actions at local levels to conserve our forest and wildlife, were the key messages that the participants in the environment awareness program in Kuch-Kuth village today. The program, organized by Future Generations Arunachal (FGA), was attended by 55 men and women from the surrounding area. Interestingly, there were more women participants than men.

“We have always depended on nature and knew we need to conserve it,” said a participant. “Today we learnt how to start taking concrete actions.” The participants discussed about the threat of global warming, the role of common man in protection of wildlife, and community participation in the government’s effort to conserve nature can make any project more effective. Facilitated by Hibu Tatu and Punyo Chada, both Green Teachers, the villagers prepared workplans for the coming three months. Their plans include plantation of saplings in the degraded forest areas, prohibition of hunting, and social services to keep the villages and the surroundings clean. Tree saplings, provided by the Hapoli Forest Division, were distributed to the participants at the end of the program.

It may be mentioned that FGA is carrying out a project entited “Identifying Best Practices to Empower Arunachal Families” in the three selected sites in the state, of which Yazali area in Lower Subansiri is one. The other two sites are Koyu Korang area in East Siang and Mechuka area in West Siang. The project explores various ways of mobilizing community energy to enable them to participate in the developmental processes and hence empower them to take locally contextual steps. The present program was carried out under the leadership of Punyo Rina, Project Supervisor, to mobilize community action in conserving flora and fauna of the area.

Community-based Wildlife Conservation

Sandwiched between the world’s two most populated countries, the tribal lands of Arunachal Pradesh, India provide a refuge for rare and endangered wildlife, including the Clouded Leopard and Red Goral. In the Talle Wildlife Sanctuary, this conservation project partners with village elders and hunters of the Apatani tribe. Local people are trained to use infrared camera traps to document and monitor wildlife. This visual data encourages community leadership in conservation activities. This project also facilitates educational programs, conservation clubs for youth, and works with women’s groups to link conservation benefits with mother and child health and income generation.

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Green Young Champions

An orientation session on the project “‘Creating Young Green Champions for a responsible Citizen’s Force to link with the Commonwealth Games’ was organized today by Future Generations Arunachal (FGA) in Itanagar for the schools participating in the project to coincide with the Queen’s Baton Relay in the city on July 22 and 23, 2010. Representatives of the teachers and the students attended the session in the FGA office.

Eight schools including Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (Nirjuli), Kingcup Public School, (Itanagar), JNK Public School (Itanagar), Arunudaya Higher Secondary School (Itanagar), Government Middle School (Niti Vihar, Itanagar), Green Mount Public School (Itanagar), Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (Chimpu) and Government Middle School (P Sector) are participating in the program. The students will prepare posters on low carbon practices and take out rallies on the routes of the Queens Baton Relay in Naharlagun and Itanagar. In addition, they will plant trees in the schools and other public places in order to create awareness on low carbon lifestyle among the communities.

The XIX Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 3-14 October 2010. As the host of the Commonwealth Games (CWG), the Govt. of Delhi has committed itself to hosting “Green Games” by inducing behavioral change towards low carbon practices. Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Global Environment Facility (GEF)/United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Small Grants Program (SGP) partners join the Delhi Government in taking this endeavour forward. FGA is coordinating the project in Arunachal Pradesh.

Earlier in the month, Mone Gurung and Pura Aiya, both FGA staff, had attended the training program on the project in Guwahati organized by the Center for Environment Education (CEE) - North East.

The project, by involving the students and teachers, aims to create awareness on low carbon practices in the cities along the Queen’s Baton Relay Route all over India. It will also prepare students from schools across states in India to act as young environment ambassadors with a special focus on the low carbon practices and sensitizing public at large at places about sustainable lifestyle practices in cities along the route of the Commonwealth Games Queens Baton Relay (QBR). The participating teachers, students and the institutions will get certificates in creating the Young Green Champions (YGCs).