the naturelover

A step to clean up PET Bottle junk from City

2010-11-20T23:54:00.000-08:00

Deputy Commissioner of capital Complex, Itanagar Dr. S B Deepak Kumar formally inaugurated much needed PET Bottle Collection Programme from DC office premises on 14^th September with an aim to make PET bottle free city. ENVIRON a reputed organization and already working on Solid Waste Management in city, now gear up to make city free from plastic wastes, for this ENVIRON organized a group of rag pickers and they will take up the collection process from roadside, drains and garbage bins. It has been observed that tons of plastic waste dumps near roadside, in drains and garbage bins which creating unhygienic environment. Not only this it quality of non biodegradable, these product becoming massive concern for human race because of this feature which date orating the quality of soil for now and also for many hundred years. The alternative option to least its impact on soil is to recycle, hence its need man power to collect these bottles, even this provide an opportunity for people living in marginal per capita income to earn extra amount by collecting and selling this product to recycling factories. In other hand we can generate money from waste product.

Whole PET Bottle Collection Programme will be carried out under the close supervision of ENVIRON in association with District Administration. On an average at least fifty kilos of PET bottles are collected per day from different part of the city. This small figure indicates in what average plastic bottle waste is raising and need to take up serious step to keep city clean from such junk. To support this programme district administration handed over two hand cart to ENVIRON for the rag pickers. To begin with firstly the collection was carried out from DC office premise. In region, still there is a need of awareness among the people, such as to use litterbins and to change its careless attitude or behavior of the people throwing anything in anywhere which cause dirtiness in surrounding. Until we change our habit or behavior we cannot save our environment.

Kripaljyoti Mazumdar

e-mail: kripaljyoti@gmail.com

ENVIRON launched Waste management programme at Itanagar Capital Complex

2010-06-23T07:20:00.000-07:00

Guwahati- based NGO ENVIRON has said it is planning to set up a waste recycling plant in Itanagar. Environ’s president Amarjyoti Kashyap informed during a community awareness programme for women and housewives at D Sector here today that besides contributing to cleanliness the plant would generate employment opportunities for hundreds in the capital complex. The programme was sponsored by NABARD. Circle officer Habung Lampung, who also participated in the programme, said people’s cooperation is necessity in the administration’s move to give the capital complex a facelift. The Government departments alone cannot be expected to be able to keep the capital clean, he said.

Lapung urged the NGO to provide training to the women here in solid waste management, segregating biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, etc. D Sector development Welfare committee general secretary Tara Yorna Thomas also sought people’s cooperation with the administration in keeping the capital clean. Meanwhile , City deputy commissioner Padmini Singla along with additional district magistrate Tolo Potom and others today visited government offices and various sector in contribution of the administration’s capital facelift’ drive. The DC has said the administration would take strong action against those carrying out unauthorized excavation on the road side and feeling trees in the capital complex. Potom later participate another awareness meeting held by Environ at A Sector here.

(Courtesy: Aruanchal Front, a state daily from Itanagar, 30th May 2010)

Kripaljyoti Mazumdar

Coordinator, Division of Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation

ENVIRON, 60, L.N.B. Road, Hatigaon, Guwahati-781006

Ph: 09436633121

World Environment Day 2010 Celebrated by ENVIRON in Parijat Academy (Pamohi, Near Deepor Beel) and B. Borooah College, Guwahati supported by ASTEC

2010-06-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

The World Environment Day 2010 was celebrated by ENVIRON, a prominent group of Northeast India engaged in conservation of nature and biodiversity simultaneously in B. Borooah College Guwahati-07 and Parijat Academy, Guwahati-35 with this year’s theme ‘Many Species, One Planet, One Future’ with the financial support from Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC).

In Parijat Academy the programme was conducted in collaboration with Panchtatva, Gauhati University. The programme commenced with the elaboration of the significance of the World Environment Day and this year’s theme by Mr. Kripaljyoti Mazumdar, Coordinator, Division of Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation, ENVIRON. Mr. Uttam Teron, Principal, Parijat Academy, welcome all the students and urged them to work for conservation of nature and natural resources. Then after, an Extempore Speech Competition was organized among the students. Ms. Trishna Sarma, Researcher, Department of Zoology, Gauhati University and Mr. Kaustubh Rakshit of ENVIRON coordinated the competition among the students. Mr. Kripaljyoti Mazumdar, Ms. Trishna Sarma and Mr. Kaustubh Rakshit on behalf of ENVIRON handed over a bundle of 17 books on various environmental and popular science including two Science Dictionaries to Mr. Teron for the Library, Parijat Academy. The programme concluded with a Vote of thanks from Mr. Teron and with the word that in future too ENVIRON will conduct such environmental workshop for children in near future too.

World Environment Day celebration programme at B. Borooah College Guwahati was organized by Environ in collaboration with SYNAPSE, B. Borooah College and Panchatatva, Gauhati University. The programme gets off the ground with a plantation programme by Dr. Dinesh Baishya, Principal B. Borooah College and a Drawing competition programme among the school students. Dr. Baishya delivered a talk on the Water scarcity & environmental damage caused by Open Cast Mining in Patkai region. Mr. Bidyut Bikash Sharma of Panchatatva, Gauhati University discussed about the Climate change issues in India. A documentary film on Environmental issue was also screened in the afternoon and Mr. Kripaljyoti Mazumdar of ENVIRON spoke on the role of youth in mitigating & challenging Climate change scenario during the evening hour discussion.

(Press release, ENVIRON)

Ten-point action plan set to fight climate change

2010-04-26T10:43:00.000-07:00

ENVIRON, an environmental management group, has come up with a ten-point action for combating climatic change at individual and community level. These include changing electric bulbs to compact fluorescent light (CFLs) bulbs to save energy; turning off unneeded lights; avoiding solid waste dumping to minimize the emission of green house gases; going organic and avoiding chemical pesticides; and buying recycled products to save energy and resource. 
ENVIRON organized a one-day workshop to observe the World Earth Day on Thursday under the National Environment Awareness Campaign programme sponsored by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. Around 200 climate student activists gathered at the Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, and took an oath to work towards combating and minimizing the effects of climate change with the theme ‘Let us unite to combat climate change.’ 
imate change. Kripaljyoti Mazumdar, coordinator, Division of Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation, ENVIRON, gave a talk on the individual efforts that youths and students can take up for combating the change.
In the interactive session, students raised concerns about the local effects that are manifesting in the present-day world with regard to climate change. The concluding session was an oath-taking ceremony where students took the pledge to undertake all-possible efforts with other youths of the region to combat climate change.
Presiding over the workshop, Prof UC Goswami spoke about climate change in the Indian context, also analyzing the politics behind the issue. Prof A Dutta and Prof DK Sharma were also among the speakers. Kaustubh Rakshit of the Department of Environmental Science gave a presentation on technologies and some possible strategies that could reduce CO2 emission. He recommended a collective effort integrating the different aspects of global climate change.

(Source: The Assam Tribune, 24th April, 2010)

Kripaljyoti Mazumdar

Coordinator, Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Division

ENVIRON, 60, L.N.B. Road, Guwahati-791113, Assam

SAVE LOKTAK LAKE CAMPAIGN, 6th March 2010, Guwahati

2010-03-06T11:50:00.000-08:00

Guwahati version of the worldwide campaign-“Save Lokrtak lake (Deepor Beel) Campaign” an initiative of NECEER, Imphal and ENVIRON, Guwahati, finally took off today at around 11 am. The Organizing team divided into two to conduct the scheduled events at two venues-Quiz competition in P. Dutta Seminar Hall, Gauhati University and Art competition in Parijat Academy, Deepor Beel. The Quiz competition called “Eco-quest 2010” has been launched for the first time in the memory of Lt. Syed Monuwar Hussain which will be conducted annually from this year onwards.

In Gauhati Unversity, the campaign took shape at around 11:30 a.m. with leisurely flow of participants. Total 48 participants turned up who made into 24 teams for The Ecoquest 2010. Mr. Kripal Mazumdar, campaign coordinator, Assam, launched the campaign with his inaugural speech about the global and state level campaign followed by felicitation of the quiz masters- Dipjyoti Deka and Shakhya Shamik. The young quiz hosts carried on the event smoothly with their host of brainstorming and interesting audio visual rounds of question touching a range of subjects and times. The winners of the memorial award for Ecoquest 2010 are- Mr. Dilip Sarma & Mr. Abhra Das of Amar Asom, Ist, Mr. Anurag Talukdar & Mr. Salim Hussain, 2^nd, and Mr. Anurag Gogoi & Nabadey Baruah, 3^rd.

While on other side, Parijat academy simultaneously conducted the Art competition on the theme “Deepor Beel” where students of the academy have actively participated. The volunteering teachers of the academy Mr. AmarJyoti Duarah, Tapu Nath and Laura Schuchart of US have judged the competition.

Kripaljyoti Mazumdar
GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development
NE Unit, Arunachal Pradesh

Rescue of Short nosed vine snake Ahaetulla prasina (Shaw, 1802) in Assam University Campus, Silchar, Assam

2010-02-26T04:21:00.000-08:00

Kripaljyoti Mazumdar¹, Mithra Dey²

^{¹GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, North East Unit Vivek vihar, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India-791113}

^{²Department of Ecology and Environmental Science Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India-788011}

^{Reptile populations are declining worldwide and this is causing growing concern. High levels of population declines followed by the expansion of red list are creating demand for eff+ective strategies to maximize conservation efforts for amphibians and reptiles (Becker and Loyola, 2008). Population decline and population extinctions are a more sensitive indicator of loss of biodiversity than species extinctions due to the probable chance of the entering the species in extinction statistics in future, which are losing a considerable amount of their population in current scenario (Ceballos and Ehrlich 2002).}

^{Snakes instill a deep-rooted fear in many people, even though these shy creatures prefer to avoid humans and most other animals larger than themselves. Of those snakes who share human habitats, the vast majority are harmless. Many of the non-poisonous, harmless snakes are killed by human out of the fear deep rooted. Short nosed Vine snakes Ahaetulla prasina (Shaw, 1802) is a mildly venomous, yet docile species, commonly found in forested and rural areas in throughout south-east Asia and pacific islands. It feeds on vertebrates, including small nesting birds, lizards and frogs. The young are born alive, and are brownish in color (Denial, 2002; Whitaker and Captain, 2004; Das 2002).}

^{We have rescued a wounded Short nosed Vine snakes (A. prasina) from south eastern side of Assam university campus (24⁰41.39’N 92⁰44.57’E) near the construction site of new buildings on 2^nd April 2009. It was badly wounded at the infralabials portion of head and was and primary treatment was given at laboratory for animal biodiversity, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University and was kept under observation for one day. It was a female individual and the length was measured during observation which is found to be 1.02 m. After a careful observation and subsequent treatment, it was released into the eco-forest which is located inside the campus covering an area of 150 acre area. The forest type in this forest is represented by tropical semi-evergreen forest (Dutta et al., 1998).}

^{It is known that fauna of certain countries, having rapid rates of human disturbances can be identified as being most at risk. Because resources for conservation are limited, the scientific community must provide managers with a solid basis for establishing conservation priorities to minimize the amphibian and reptile population declines and consequently species threat (Becker and Loyola, 2008). Along with this the conservation education and awareness among the people towards snakes and it’s ecological and cultural importance in primordial Indian civilization is also inevitable.}

Acknowledgement: We are thankful to students of department of Mass-communication for the information and help during rescue. We are also inevitably thankful to the other faculty members of Department of Ecology and Environmental science for the support.

References:

Whitaker, R. and Captain, A. 2004. Snakes of India: the Field Guide. Draco Books, Chengalpattu, pp. 480

Daniel, J.C. 2002. The book of Indian reptiles and amphibians. Bombay Natural History Society and Oxford University press, pp. 238+viii

Das, I. 2002. A photographic guide to Snakes and other reptiles of India. Om Books International, pp. 144

Dutta, B.K., Gupta A & Das, A.K. 1998. Assam University Campus (Silchar) Ecology and Biodiversity. Assam University, Silchar, 19 pp.

Becker, C.G. and Loyola, R.D. 2008. Extinction risk assessments at the population and species level: implication for amphibian conservation. Biodiversity Conservation 17: 2297-2304.

Ceballos G. and Ehrlich, P.R. 2002. Mammal population losses and the extinction crisis. Science 296:904-907.

Recommended Citation:

Mazumdar, K. and Dey, M. 2010. Rescue of Short nosed vine snake Ahaetulla prasina (Shaw, 1802) in Assam University Campus, Silchar, Assam. Zoos’ Print, Vol. XXV (2):25.

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Kripaljyoti Mazumdar
GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development
NE Unit, Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh, India-791113.
Phone-0091360 2216423(O)
Mob: +91-9436633121, 9615041048

Save Loktak Campaign

2010-02-15T03:10:00.000-08:00

Northeast Centre for Environmental Education and Research (NECEER), Imphal is going to organise a Worldwide Save Loktak Lake Campaign at 20 cities in 3 continents on 7th March 2010. NECEER in collaboration with ENVIRON will carry out the Campaign at Guwahati and Silchar city. I on behalf of NECEER and ENVIRON, we would like to request all the youths and organizations to extend their helping hand towards this unique campaign. The campaign is an attempt to create awareness about the threats and need for conserving this natural heritage of North-east India. NECEER, Imphal has been organising campaigns for the conservation of endangered species and fragile ecosystems of Manipur for the last few years.

Loktak Lake is the largest fresh water lake in Northeast India. It has an area of 300sq km and has been recognized as Ramsar site in 1990. Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park in the world is situated at the south west part of the lake. Deepor beel is another lake from Assam which has also been designated as Ramsar site in November 2002 (infact it is the lone Ramsar site from Assam) while we will also focus conservation issue of Son beel and Chatla wetland two important wetland of Barak valley Southern Assam. These lakes are home to many endangered and vulnerable species of avifauna & mammals, particularly the Loktak lake is only home to critically endangered Manipur brow antlered deer 'Sangai' (Cervus eldi eldi) and many bird and plant species. Deepor beel has been selected as Important bird area (IBA) by Birdlife International.

These lakes have been a main source of income and sustenance for inhabitants of the area. For the last few decades these lakes has been facing all round destructions due to both natural and anthropogenic activities. Rapid expansion of Phumdis, siltation, pollution, agriculture and adverse effect from Loktak Hydropower Project are some of the main problems which had led to an alarming destruction of the lake.

For more write to

Kripal (for information on Assam Campaign) at environNE1@gmail.com
Jiban (for information on Worldwide Campaign) at neceer.imp@gmail.com
Bidyut (for information on Guwahati Campaign) at bidyut.bikash.sarma@gmail.com
Chinmoy (for information on Silchar Campaign) at chinmoy.environ@gmail.com

With regards-

Kripaljyoti Mazumdar

Coordinator, Save Loktak Lake Campaign, Guwahati

Honorary Fellow, NECEER, Imphal, Manipur

Executive Member, ENVIRON, Guwahati, Assam

Associate, Wildlife Research and Conservation Trust, Kerela

ECOTONE-bi-monthly newsletter

2009-10-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

On the behalf of the editorial board of Ecotone, I hereby express the pleasure in bringing out the 1st edition of our newsletter. Ecotone is a joint publication of Environ, Guwahati (Assam) and NECEER, Imphal(Manipur). Immense efforts have been put in the newsletter to cover the most remarkable news, issues and events of the region, which may be useful to our readers.

You are also welcome to contribute articles, photographs with details, news or in any other form pertaining to the regional environment and development related issues, North eastern region for publishing in our subsequent issues.

For free online copy of Ecotone, please contact:

The Editor, Ecotone at ecotone.editor@gmail.com

With regards-

Kripaljyoti Mazumdar
GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development
NE Unit, Arunachal Pradesh

Ecotone

2009-10-05T04:39:00.000-07:00

Ecotone E-newsletter (a joint venture of Environ, Guwahati and NECEER, Imphal).

Ecotone is an effort to highlight all the environment related research activities and news of the North eastern region.
I would like to invite all my friends and other researchers to contribute a short article/news (300-500 words if possible with one photograph) for our upcoming October Issue.

Last date of submission : 10th October 2009

With regards,
Kripaljyoti Mazumdar

Editor-in-Chief

Ecotone

e-mail: ecotone.editor@gmail.com

Another year ahead to combat climate change and desertification

2009-06-21T04:09:00.000-07:00

Since 1995 UN General Assembly (under resolution no A/RES/49/1995), every year 17^th June has been celebrated as the World day to combat drought and desertification for promoting public awareness related to international cooperation to combat the effect of drought and desertification under the umbrella of UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification). Likewise, this year also UN as a part of their international campaign to tackle global environmental deterioration particularly degradation of dry-lands is celebrating International day to Combat Desertification with the theme “Conserving land and water = Securing our common future”.

It is important to note that 44% of all cultivated system worldwide is located within dry-land. Desertification makes 12 million hectares of land useless for cultivation every year, whereas half of the people who are below poverty line live in dry-lands. Drought and desertification is directly linked with soil productivity and it induces the vulnerability towards pests and diseases. As a result of climate change, agriculture in the dry land is being seriously threatened by raising temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns or the increase of drought. Desertification, land degradation and drought threaten this human security by depriving people of their means of life – by taking away food, access to water, the means for economic activities, and even their homes. This has also impact on the migration and movements of people from one place to other in search of these resources. When secure water and food supplies cannot be guaranteed, people frequently migrate to areas where they believe they can find them. The most recent estimates put the number of the environmentally displaced from anywhere between 17 and 24 million people around the world. It is projected that for the period leading up to the year 2050 there will be 200 million environmentally induced migrants (International Organization for Migration, Geneva). Agriculture and food security are the major concern as decrease in agricultural productivity with shrinking of land availability is the biggest challenge to feed increase population of India. The phenomenon of climate change is affecting the agricultural production and available land for cultivation in a serious manner in India. About 28 % of the country’s total cultivable land is drought prone and about 68 million hector land is undergoing and affected by desertification, which could be a serious blow on agricultural productivity and food security.

The north eastern India is known for the forest and other natural resources along with the water resources. But of late, most of the part of this region is facing the problem of water scarcity and water pollution in some part of the region is perceived as an important problem beside biodiversity loss, jhum, deforestation and urbanization. Many urban localities in the area are constantly facing the problem of water scarcity since last couple of years. City like Imphal is severely facing the problem since last two months. The intensity is such that Imphal has witnessed almost 75 % decrease rainfall in the first quarter of this year as compared to that of 2007-08 as per the record of state meteorological department. During September 2007 to March 2008 rainfall in the city was about 527 mm and within a year the rainfall decreases to three fold resulting only 206 mm in this season. Even during a study while I am comparing the rainfall and meteorological data of Tawang and Bomdila we came up with a linear decrease in rainfall over last 15 years. This two examples along with many other are the replica of phase of future water scarcity and depict the coming days water scenario in the region.

Much of the land surface is degrading or at the risk of degradation due to decline of forest covers. Forest plays an important role in preventing and controlling land degradation and desertification and also for sound economic development while conserving the global environment. The process of deforestation and desertification are intractably linked, whereby land cover changes in terms of forest or other land use and unsustainable use of land resources over a period of time lead to degradation of land and simultaneously desertification. Water harvesting and conservation should be a national priority and it should be used judiciously. Plants in forest areas are the natural carbon sinks. Proper step for massive aforestation and conservation of the remaining forest lands will help in regeneration of the degraded forests and slow down the process of desertification. In this context, stress should be given to conserve and protect forest land, natural water bodies including lakes, rivers and streams where the youth of the region can play a vital role in this context. Lastly, there is another year ahead to combat the ill-effect of climate change and desertification for better ecosystem services and sustainable development.

My article published in the Arunachal Times

2009-06-14T22:17:00.000-07:00

A thought on the World Environment day

Kripaljyoti Mazumdar

Like the other this year also we are celebrating World Environment day, with the theme ‘Your planet needs you- Unite to combat Climate change’ urging the human being to unite against the effect of climate change. While since its inception during the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 (by resolution 2994 (XXVII) of December 15, 1972, in the General Assembly of UN)to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, each year it is being celebrated across the world, with a host country each year. This year’s host is Mexico city, Mexico which reflects the growing role of the Latin American country in the fight against climate change, including its growing participation in the carbon markets. This endeavor of World Environmental day promotes environmental issues to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development as well as upholds an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues and advocates partnership that will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

It has been seen that since last three years the main concern of the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) was on the Global warming and the affect of climate change, which reflects in each year’s theme. While exactly two decades earlier in 1989 when the UNEP first put its Environmental day theme on Global Warming, the impact of the global warming perhaps not been seen or felt at such intensive level as at the moments and the scientific trends that are available now.

Temperature increase is widespread over the globe, with higher than average trends in many of the world’s highlands. On average the global temperature rose by 0.74°C over the last hundred years (1906-2005), with more than half of this rise, 0.44°C, in the last 25 years. Eleven of the twelve years between 1995 and 2006 rank among the twelve warmest years since 1850 when records of global surface temperature began, this trend certainly alarm us about the trend of global warming and must concern all of us.

This global trend of climate change certainly depicts a picture of global raise of sea level or the low laying areas. But, the Climate change has become a major issue in the Himalayan region too. Temperatures increase as per prediction, all aspects of human and natural life will be affected.

The mountain regions are particularly vulnerable, both because warming trends are higher and because the impacts are magnified by the extreme changes in altitude over small distances. Life in the entire Himalayan region also relies strongly on the monsoon systems, and these may be altered by climate change. Locally, people’s ability to adapt will be challenged; further away, changes in the Himalayas could affect the life and livelihoods of the 1.3 billion people living in the river basins downstream.

Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has developed one of the most comprehensive climate change projection studies in the region, which suggest that there will be a decrease in monsoon precipitation of up to 20% by the end of the century in most parts of south-eastern Afghanistan, the southern and eastern Tibetan Plateau and the central Himalayan range. Changes in the monsoon regime might lead to an overall increase in precipitation in some areas, and a decrease in others. There are also likely to be more flash floods resulting from increased numbers and magnitude of extreme precipitation events, and there may be greater direct runoff and less delayed runoff as less precipitation falls as snow.

All areas of South Asia are projected to warm by at least 1°C by the end of the century; in the Punjab area, a large part of Afghanistan, Badakshan, the western Nepal Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh, and the northern Tibetan Plateau, warming could be as high as 3.5-4°C. The rate of warming is likely to increase with increasing altitude, at least in Nepal, Bhutan and Eastern Himalaya.

The effect of climate change which worries environmentalists of this part of eastern Himalaya is about the effect of climate change on ecosystem services as Climate change is going to affecting forest type and area, primary productivity, species populations and migration, the occurrence of pests and disease, and forest regeneration. The increase in greenhouse gases is also affecting species composition and changing the ecosystem structure, which in turn affects ecosystem function. The interaction between elevated CO₂ and climate change plays an important role in the overall response of net primary productivity. Climate change will have a profound effect on the future distribution, productivity, and ecological health of forests. There could be a significant reduction in alpine and cryospheric ecosystems and their services. A major expansion of the tropical zones would cover most of the middle mountains and inner valleys of the region, whereby the quality and quantity of ecosystem services are likely to change dramatically for the worse.

Climate change is also going to affect the human health and the people’s well being as it will affect in the form of Vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever which are likely to move to higher altitudes. Water-borne diseases are also likely to increase with the increasing water stress accompanied by the lack of safe drinking water and basic sanitation in the region. Deaths and morbidity associated with extreme and erratic weather are also likely to increase. Climate change will have differentiated impacts which could be more severe for women, and poor and marginalized groups.

These data and facts are most alarming towards the extent of global warming and the climate change that we are facing, and the phenomenon is now regarded as the greatest threat facing the world. There are many disputes related to the reduction of CO₂ by among many countries, but we need to understand that Climate change is a global problem that needs addressing now for the sake of future generations. The science is well established and the dangers clear. It needs the consolidate effort of all section of people and specially the youths. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon in his message on the eve of World Environmental day encouraged all people to take concrete steps toward making the planet greener and cleaner and urge about needs of a “Green New Deal” focused on investing in renewable sources of energy, eco-friendly infrastructure and energy efficiency.

Year Wise Theme and List of Host Countries of World Environmental Day since last two decades

Year

Theme

Host Country

2009

Your Planet Needs you- unite to combat climate change

Mexico

2008

CO_2,Kick the Habitat! Towards a low Carbon Economy

Wellington, New Zealand

2007

Melting Ice- a hot topic

Tromso, Norway

2006

Desert and desertification-don’t desert Drylands!

Algiers, Algeria

2005

Green cities- plan for the planet

San Francisco, USA

2004

Seas and Oceans- dead or alive

Barcelona, Spain

2003

Water- two billion people are dieing for it.

Beirut, Lebanon

2002

Give earth a chance

Shenzhen, China

2001

Connect with World wide web of life

Jointly by Italy and Cuba

2000

The Environment Millennium – Time to Act

Adelaide, Australia

1999

Our Earth - Our Future - Just Save It!

Tokyo, Japan

1998

For Life on Earth - Save Our Seas

Moscow, Russian Federation

1997

For Life on Earth

Seoul, Republic of Korea

1996

Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home

Istanbul, Turkey

1995

We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment

Pretoria, South Africa

1994

One Earth One Family

London, United Kingdom

1993

Poverty and the Environment - Breaking the Vicious Circle

Beijing, China

1992

Only One Earth, Care and Share

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1991

Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership

Stockholm, Sweden

1990

Children and the Environment

Mexico City, Mexico

1989

Global Warming; Global Warning

Brussels, Belgium

(Published in Arunachal Times, 5th June 2009).

Save Deepor Beel Andolan

2009-01-22T04:18:00.000-08:00

One of my friend and senior Ajoy Das from leading environmental group of Assam Aaranyak is taking the initiative for the conservation of Deepor beel the lone Ramsar site of state of Assam. I am here attaching the fact sheet that he prepared and I urge all the concern people, environmentalist, scientist, wildlife biologists and general mass to support this noble cause--

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

FACTS SHEET
(Subjected to correction and authentic inputs)
For
Save Deepor Beel Andolan

This facts sheet has been prepared for private circulation among the environmental lovers so that they can democratically resist the plan of N. F. railways plan to newly construct the railway track near deepor beel which would be towards Meghalaya (main current issue of Save Deepor Beel Andolan).The railway track is just an attempt to fill up few influential people’s pockets in the name of development. The existing railway track has already caused devastation and would cause more due to more frequenting of goods trains. Deepor beel still fights with number of problems part from the goods railway track.
→Communities residing near deepor beel, of which mostly are tribal and agriculturist, have been harmoniously residing near deepor beel since time immemorial and thus they are integral part of deepor beel. The Communities are the part of wetland conservation throughout the world.
→Deepor beel serves as a storm water basin for the people of Guwahati. It has medicinal plants which the communities depend on them since ages to cure their diseases (Traditional and Indigenous knowledge system). Each year there are migratory birds which comes to deepor beel. Weather birds like- Golden plover, Little-winged plover, bank myna etc, have a sharp decreasing trend. Nowadays, they are almost not visible at all. Deepor beel has also endemic birds. There are more than 219 bird species of which 70 species are waterfowl, 20 amphibian, 12 lizards, 18 snakes and 6 turtle and tortoise species, apart from the 50 fish species along with 18 genera of phytoplankton and 21 genera of zooplanktons are recorded so far from this beel.
→Deepor beel is a culturally important for the people of Assam. Way back during British regime Deshabhakta Tarun Ram Phukan wrote an autobiography called ‘Tarun Ram Phukanar Shikar Kahini’. People of Assam do not need any introduction of late Tarun Ram Phukan, the freedom fighter who fought against the British. In his autobiography he has given vivid description about deepor beel and the waterfowls found there. His hunting associate was Late Tabak Mikir who’s Grandsons Mr. Lakhsman Teron and Mr. Keshab Teron still resides near deepor beel.
→It was proposed as Wildlife Sanctuary in the year 1992 and it still remains so. Unfortunately, it has not yet been declared as sanctuary till date.
→In the year 1989/90(year not known exactly), construction of railway line over/north bank/south bank of deepor beel was proposed. Amidst lot of cry and resistance from environmental groups and the local people residing at deepor beel, the railway track at the south bank was made depriving many people of their agricultural and residential land land.
→By way of notification dated Dispur, the 31st May ’95 all the wetlands were made reserved wetlands in Assam due to their ecological importance.
→In the year 2001/2002 the railway line was completed which intersect the elephant corridor of the site. The deepor beel also interacts with the other wild life of Rani Garbhanga Reserve forests at high note which has been greatly destroyed because of the goods railway track
→Due to the railway line life of many elephants have turned to death. Since the existence of this Railway track near about eight (8) elephants have been killed, besides minor and major injuries the elephants suffer from time to time.
→Deepor Beel was granted Ramsar site recognition on 19/8/2002 bearing Ramsar site no. 1207 under Convention on wetlands of Wetlands of International Importance Especially as waterfowl Habitat. popularly known as Ramsar Convention. As such India has international obligation to protect and preserve Deepor Beel.In Assam deeor beel is the only one such wetland of international reputation.
→On 7th July 2005 at Vigyan Path, Paschim Boragaon, Garchuk, Guwahati-781035 was made a Garbage Dump of the entire garbage of the Guwahati city. The garbage dump is just near deepor beel touching the water of deepor beel.The garbage dump is very near to the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology(IASST),Production center of ARTFED near deepor beel and also Pragjoytish English High School.
→Recently, some part of the area surrounding the deepor beel has also been declared as Eco-Sensitive Zone. Sahara India had to stop their large scale construction plan of building up a township after declaring it so.
→Deepor beel has also been included as directory of Asian wetlands as wetland type-14.
→One year back, notification was issued for acquisitions of land for the new construction of railway track .Notices are being issued to various cultivators and residential owners of the land for acquiring their land. As such, the rail way track towards Pamohi, Moinakhurung, and Garughuli and so on would affect more than 500 families. The rail way track is primarily to transit coal from Megahalya. The people of the deepor beel region have remained helpless on various such issues. They desperately need help. [Information collected from local people]
Pleaser circulate this facts sheet to all concerned and join the Save Deepor Beel Andolan providing your valuable suggestions, show of interest, further information on the facts sheet, contact addresses, numbers and e-mail ids (if any) to --

Ajoy Kumar Das
Contact no.9957387738
e-mail- ajoylaw@gmail.com , ajoy@aaranyak.org
50, Samanwoy Path, Survey, Beltola, Guwahati-781028
Please note that any co-operation on this issue would be kept secret.

________________________________________________________________________

I urge all the prople to extend their helping hand to Ajoy.

Regards-

Kripal-the naturelover

****************************************

Mr. Kripaljyoti Mazumdar, JRF

G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development,

North East Unit, Itanagar Arunachal Pradesh, India-791113.

Phone-0091-360 -2216423(O); Mob: +91-9615041048

Residence~

6, Tribeni Path, Chandan Nagar

Six Mile, Guwahati-781022Assam (India)

e-mail: kripaljyoti@gmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Nature has been for me, as long as

I remember, a source of solace, inspiration,

adventure, and delight; a home, a teacher, and a companion." — Lorraine Anderson

In the Valley of Black-necked Crane

2009-01-22T02:38:00.000-08:00

For last couple of week I had been to the Dirang, one of the most beautiful valley in the westernmost part of Arunachal Pradesh as a part of my field trip. The land of raising sun, Arunachal Pradesh having a home of 26 major tribes and 110 sub-tribes, it provides the blend of vast cultural, ritual, and ethnic diversity and is perhaps one of the richest area in terms of its floral, faunal, cultural ethnic and ritual diversity in India. With 26 major tribes and more than 110 sub-tribes, the state supports over 600 species of Orchids, more than 200 species of mammalian fauna and about 738 species of birds are being recorded to occur till now. In the western part of Arunachal Pradesh, which was earlier known as Kameng, one can enjoy the beauty of tropical evergreen forests found along the foothills of southern part of the West Kameng district bordering with Assam (up to an elevation gradient of 900m). As you move up, the forest patterns turns into subtropical evergreen or mixed forest which ranges up to an altitudinal range from 900 to 1800 m msl. In Dirang valley you will find a mixture of mixed forest along with the temperate forest. As you move towards Tawang, in upward direction, before reaching the Sela pass, (which is the world’s second highest motorable road) in lower sela area, the subalpine fir vegetation started (which is the dominant in the sela pass region upto an altitude of 4500 m msl). Above 4500m height the vegetation is mostly Alpine vegetation dominated by herbaceous species like Rheum, Arenaria, Saussurea etc. along with Rhododendron sp.

Dirang, which is also a District block with an area of 139,940 ha, of which 63.5 % area is under evergreen forest cover, whereas 35.7% are under the deciduous and degraded forest cover, provides general land cover pattern which is smooth and simple. The steep slopes of almost all river valleys where moderate erosion is expected, are covered by degraded forests. Sangti village and valley which is almost about 30-40 minutes drive from Dirang, at an altitude of 1500 m, known for its wintering Black necked Crane Gurus nigricollis. The Black necked crane is one of the rarest bird species found in Himalayan belt and it has been listed under Vulnerable category according to BirdLife International. Sangti valley along with Zimithang is the two valleys that this species of bird visit in Western Arunachal Pradesh along with other four sites in entire Arunachal.
The Monpa tribes, which practices Buddhism, protect these species according to their traditional believes and faith in this two valleys. Monpas played an important role of intermediaries in trade between Assam and Tibet. While they used to go to Tibetan trading market during the summers, they usually visited Assam plains during winters. Produce like chillies, vegetable, dyes, hand made paper, and husked rice traded for Tibetan salt, wool and churpi. Masks, animal hide, chillies, etc., were also important trade items of Monpas to be exchanged with Tibetan rock salt, wool, woolen cloths and Tibetan dao resembling swords. Within the Arunachal also, Monpas exchange butter, coats shoes, carpets, blankets, masks and yak cap, salt and beetle nut with Sherdukpen tribal group in exchange of cows, Assamese endicloths, mithun and animal-skins. Although Monpas are the predominant community, other five tribes also occur in this part of state, they are Sherdukpen, Khowa, Aka and Miji.
Of late the declaration of the proposed Twang West Kameng BR (also known as Tsangyang Gyatso biosphere reserve and Peace park) has let some light in for conservation efforts in the area, with participation from the locals. Tsangyang Gyatso Biosphere Reserve is named after his holiness the 6th Dalai Lama (1683-1706) who was born at Urgeling in Tawang district. GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, North East Unit is working in the proposed reserve with Human-wildlife conflict and co-existence in three different dimensions— 1). Livestock depredation and retaliatory killing of carnivores; 2). Agricultural damage induced conflict and killing of crop raiding animals; 3). Grazing competition between livestock and wild ungulates.
The western Arunachal provides tremendous scope for the wildlife biologists and sociologists to work. I will be sharing my other experiences working in this area in coming blog posts. At last I must suggest everbody to have a visit to this part of Himalay once in their lifetime......

With Regards-
Kripal-the naturelover

***********************************
Kripaljyoti Mazumdar
G.B. Pant Institute for Himalayan
Environment and Development
North East Unit, Itanagr,
Arunachal Pradesh-791113
E-mail: kripaljyoti@rediffmail.com

"Nature has been for me, as long as I

remember, a source of solace, inspiration,

adventure, and delight; a home, a teacher, and a companion." — Lorraine Anderson

Year Wise Theme and List of Host Countries of World Environmental Day since last two decades
Year	Theme	Host Country
2009	Your Planet Needs you- unite to combat climate change	Mexico
2008	CO_2,Kick the Habitat! Towards a low Carbon Economy	Wellington, New Zealand
2007	Melting Ice- a hot topic	Tromso, Norway
2006	Desert and desertification-don’t desert Drylands!	Algiers, Algeria
2005	Green cities- plan for the planet	San Francisco, USA
2004	Seas and Oceans- dead or alive	Barcelona, Spain
2003	Water- two billion people are dieing for it.	Beirut, Lebanon
2002	Give earth a chance	Shenzhen, China
2001	Connect with World wide web of life	Jointly by Italy and Cuba
2000	The Environment Millennium – Time to Act	Adelaide, Australia
1999	Our Earth - Our Future - Just Save It!	Tokyo, Japan
1998	For Life on Earth - Save Our Seas	Moscow, Russian Federation
1997	For Life on Earth	Seoul, Republic of Korea
1996	Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home	Istanbul, Turkey
1995	We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment	Pretoria, South Africa
1994	One Earth One Family	London, United Kingdom
1993	Poverty and the Environment - Breaking the Vicious Circle	Beijing, China
1992	Only One Earth, Care and Share	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1991	Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership	Stockholm, Sweden
1990	Children and the Environment	Mexico City, Mexico
1989	Global Warming; Global Warning	Brussels, Belgium