ITANAGAR, May 24:Chief Minister Pema Khandu today chaired the meeting of the state’s senior forest officers here at PCCF office. 

Addressing the review meeting, the Chief Minister spoke on the need to regularize the illegal harvesting of medicinal plants. As these plants are predominantly of wild origin, hundreds of species are now threatened with extinction because of over-harvesting and destructive collection techniques, he said. 

To stop unsustainable levels of harvesting and to devise a mechanism so that farmers can grow endangered medicinal plants for sustainable income, the Chief Minister appealed the department to bring out a policy to legalise such trade and to enable the state to earn revenue out of it.

Responding to department grievances, he announced fund of Rs 15 crore for forest regeneration works in the state. He also announced to create 200 posts of forest guards to strengthen the department to monitor and tackle wildlife related crimes besides sanctioning of 10 numbers of vehicles.

The CM further assured to allocate the Forest Ministry to a Cabinet Minister as at the moment he is holding the portfolio alongwith his huge workload. Asserting that the Forest department is huge and responsibilities big, Khandu observed that it needs an independent minister in-charge and assured to appoint one soon for smoother functioning.

He congratulated the Bugun community for winning the India Biodiversity Award 2018 in the “Conservation of wildlife species” category conferred by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).

He said government alone cannot protect nature and encouraged the local communities to come forward in preserving Mother Nature. He further suggested use of innovative practices and technology for conservation of biodiversity

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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.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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