The third edition of three-day long Butterfly & Biodiversity Meet, Pasighat has begun at Ledum village, some 27 km from district headquarter in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday.
The meet is participated by Pasighat West MLA, Ninong Ering, East Siang district deputy commissioner, Dr Kinny Singh among several butterfly and wildlife experts, enthusiast, tourists, nature lovers, environmentalists, research scholars and ecologists.
Addressing as the chief guest, Ering has lauded the village community of Ledum for showing the way for others in protecting their rich flora & fauna by banning hunting & fishing besides felling of trees/forest under the jurisdiction of Ledum village.
“The Ledum village which has been selected as cleanest village of East Siang district for the year 2018 is on its way to get listed in eco-tourism map of India and the world through their conservation efforts and tidiness.
The participation of the local community who are the most important stakeholders is most vital towards conservation of our ecosystem for sustainable development and for our future generation,” added Ering
While, deputy commissioner, Dr Kinny Singh as guest of honour said such occasions provide a common platform to ponder and create awareness among the community members.
Stating that the delicate and fragile butterflies which are beautiful creation of nature and one of the vital species in nature, symbolizes the need to protect our fragile eco-system.
“We must all come together to conserve and protect our rich wildlife and bio-diversity,” added Singh.
He also stressed on preservation and conservation of forest and wildlife.
He added East Siang district admission has already taken steps in this connection and has issued directives through the village gaon burhas to protect wildlife and take strict action.
Earlier, a dance presentation on the theme of how butterflies came into being and its need for conservation was also presented.
It was written and choreographed by noted folk artiste and national award winner, Denong Padung.
Dr Joram Khopey also presented a brief note on history of Butterfly & Bio-Diversity Meet and its objective.
While DFO, Mouling Wildlife Sanctuary, Boken Pao and DFO, Pasighat Forest Division, Tashi Mize also spoke on the need to conserve wildlife and bio-diversity.
DFO Pasighat Forest Divison, Meze announced to arrest at least 2-3 forest act violators this year as people are still getting involved into illegal forest felling and others.
Dr Sarala Khaling, regional head, Ashoka Trust for Research on Ecology and Environment from Sikkim and Nawang Bhutia, president of Bomos Nature Conservation Society and also known as butterfly man of Sikkim were among others felicitated on the occasion.
While three tourists from Italy and England also joined in the butterfly meet who was also felicitated among others.
While talking to this reporter, three of the tourists expressed their joy over visiting this butterfly meet who added that people of this corner of India are very warmly and friendly.
“We would like to suggest more tourists to come and visit these villages and landscape beauty of Arunachal Pradesh”, added the young lady from Italy.
While one gentleman from England who was asked to suggest for improvement of this butterfly meet and tourist flow in Arunachal Pradesh suggested the restricted permit system to the foreigners be relieved for certain level so that genuine tourists from other countries could excess to this frontier state.
Meanwhile, organizing chairman of the Butterfly & Biodiversity Meet, Talut Siram said that, this meet of butterfly & biodiversity is to conserve nature and its rich flora & fauna.
“I personally, have been working toward conservation from last eight to nine years and have also given up eating/consuming wildlife meat so as to preserve wildlife,” said Siram.
“I am thankful to all our fellow organizers like John Pada, Dr. David Gao, Dr. Kaling Dai, DMO East Siang and others including the East Siang Home-stay Association members who worked hard to make the event successful”, added Siram.
Siram also heads the Adi Baane Kebang (apex & appellate body of Adi society/tribe) East Siang Unit as general secretary.
Moth watching was one of the highlights.
The three day eco-tourism event beginning on Tuesday will feature biodiversity discovery, bird-watching, conservation activities, nature trail hike and nature photography.
Nature lovers and conversations are also converging during the three-day meet.