Itanagar, Oct 27: Minister, Environment & Forests, WRD and Sports Mama Natung chaired a review meeting of the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) and senior officers of the Department of Environment and Forests here at the Conference Hall of PCCF office on Tuesday.
In his maiden address to the officers of the department after taking charge as the Minister (Env. & Forests), Natung asked the DFOs to be more vigilant and proactive in conserving the state’s rich ‘nature-culture’ legacy. 
“Owing to exceptional biodiversity, Arunachal Pradesh receives the highest devolution share due to its forest cover. Therefore, the department should continue its focus on protection, preservation and sustainable management of the rich flora and fauna,” Natung said, also emphasising on research needs. 
Recalling his recent e-launch of ‘Red List Assessment of Orchids of Arunachal Pradesh’ in collaboration with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Natung expressed delight that the state which has more than 600 orchid species would be on the global orchid map. “Arunachal Pradesh has also been tagged as the ‘Orchid Paradise in India’,” he added.
On the occasion, the Minster released a field manual on ‘Nursery Management and Cultivation of Paris polyphylla (Satwa) and Tinospora cordifolia (Giloe)’ and a leaflet on ‘Sustainable Harvest Protocol of Selected Medicinal Plants of Arunachal Pradesh’. 
Adviser to the Minister, Kumsi Sidisow emphasized on devising a roadmap on eco-tourism and commercialization of orchids and medicinal plants for economic upliftment of the state’s people. MLA Hayeng Mangfi opined that plantations should be one of the prime focus to be taken up through CAMPA funds.

PCCF & Principal Secretary (Environment and Forests) R. K. Singh briefed about the shortage of manpower both at the administrative and field levels and apprised the Minister that over the last few decades, there has been no additional creation of posts from the levels of Forest Guard to Range Forest Officer, whereas the Department has created more than 12 divisions in the last 10 years. Impressing upon the Minister to take up the issue with the state government, Singh also highlighted that the annual budgetary allocation is too meagre. “The department is running with less than 1.00% of the State grant from the Centre. The sudden drop after 13th Finance Commission has rendered the department without regeneration and on-field plantations,” he added, elaborating on the department’s activities to the Minister through a PowerPoint Presentation.
PCCF (RE) Rajesh and PCCF (WL & BD) G. Kumar also spoke on the occasion. PCCF PR

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
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