PANGE, Oct 8: India’s first Wild Orchid Conservation Trail was inaugurated by Nabam Rebia, Minister  for Forest and Environment, etc. at Pange today on the occasion of the 64th National Wildlife Week celebration.
Pange is located around 15 kms from Ziro and is the gateway to pristine Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.
Lauding the efforts of the Hapoli Forest Division under DFO Koj Rinyo,  Rebia said,” The world today is boiling with environmental issues and the changes in the ecological systems. The initiative of the Hapoli Forest Division in conservation activities is the need of the hour and should be emulated by others.”
Also impressed with the NGOs, panchayat leaders and the local communities volunteering as guardians of the jungles,  he said, “The peaceful and harmonious co-existence of man with nature, animals and birds is possible only if the public sentiments can be moulded to love nature and stop killing wildlife.”
Taking a strong view of deforestation in the name of development, Rebia added, “Ziro is abundantly blessed with virgin forests, beautiful landscape and a pleasant weather. The natural beauty of the valley should not be compromised in the name of development. The development activities should be planned in a proper manner without disturbing the ecological balance.”
Speaking on the occasion, local MLA Tage Taki said that conservation of the forest cover of Talle Valley is very crucial for maintaining the delicate environmental balance in and around Ziro. 
PCCF Dr. Rabindra Kumar also suggested developing a medicinal plant and a rhododendron garden to increase the tourism USP of the area.
NGUNU Ziro , an NGO pioneering in conversation activities in the area, the Hapoli Forest Division and the local MLA unanimously presented a memorandum to the Minister for declaring Talle Wildlife Sanctuary as a Butterfly Sanctuary and declaring Kaiser-e-Hind as the state butterfly of Arunachal Pradesh. The Minister, an environmentalist by heart assured all possible help and promised to prioritize the memorandums submitted.
It is worth mentioning here that more than 200 butterfly species have been found in Talle Valley. The co-existence of three very rare butterflies Kaiser-e-Hind, Bhutan Glory and Brown Gorgon in one single place is rarest of the rare case, as per butterfly experts. As butterflies are very sensitive indicators of biodiversity of the area, it is important that the habitat is protected. 
The minister also brought out a book on “Medicinal Plants of Talle Wildlife Sanctuary” co-authored by DFO Smt Koj Rinyo, IFS and Dr. Dekbin Yomgam.
He also released a Peoples Biodiversity register by Biodiversity Management Committee, Hong and brochures on Birds, Butterflies, bamboos, canes, rhododendrons and wild life of Talle Valley by the Hapoli Forest Division.

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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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