The Nagaland government on Wednesday inaugurated the Doyang Wildlife Division along with a dedicated control room in Wokha district to address the rising incidents of human-elephant conflict (HEC) in the region, officials said.
The new division was formally launched by the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the Doyang Wildlife Division Office in Forest Colony, Wokha. The initiative has been carved out of the erstwhile Doyang Plantation Division and will cover Wokha, Mokokchung and Zunheboto districts.
Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister C L John attended the inauguration as chief guest and stressed the need to translate environmental awareness into concrete action. He highlighted the importance of balancing forests, wildlife and human needs for sustainable development.
Acknowledging the state’s traditional respect for nature, the minister said wider public awareness and active participation in conservation efforts have only recently gained momentum. He expressed confidence that community involvement in environmental protection would increase in the coming years.
Focusing on human-elephant conflict, John called for peaceful coexistence and urged local communities to cooperate in mitigating crop and property damage caused by wild elephants. He also assured that mechanisms were being strengthened to ensure quicker response and redressal of such incidents.
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Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force Vedpal Singh said the creation of the new division was necessitated by the increasing frequency of human-elephant conflict cases in Wokha and adjoining areas. He described the move as a major step towards ensuring faster intervention and better citizen support.
Principal Secretary Y Kikheto Sema also emphasised the need for awareness and long-term planning, adding that efforts were underway to secure externally aided projects to deal with the issue in a comprehensive manner.
Officials said the new division is expected to strengthen wildlife management and conservation efforts while providing a dedicated institutional mechanism to respond to conflict situations more effectively in the region.
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