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World Environment Day in mountains of India

24.06.2016

Stretching over 12 states - Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and the hilly districts of Assam and West Bengal, the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is home to incredible diversity of flora and fauna. But this diversity is under serious threat due to habitat destruction and illegal trade.

Global climate change and human activities - deforestation, construction of dams, mining operations and road laying - are increasingly causing environmental deterioration and fragmentation and loss of wildlife habitats. Wildlife are having to move towards human settlements, leading to increased human-wildlife conflict. These wandering wildlife are mostly killed by humans, who fear crop or life loss, another reason for their decline in numbers.

Poaching of animals for their skin, fur, tusk, horns, meat and medicines has significantly risen in the IHR; especially the Eastern Himalayas, a biodiversity hotspot and home iconic species such as the tiger (panthera tigris tigris), red panda (ailurus fulgens), Asian elephant (elephas maximus), greater one-horned rhino (rhinoceros unicornis) and snow leopard (panthera uncia).

To spread awareness about the need to save the environment, to alert communities on the increasing incidences of illegal wildlife trade and to promote the ways that can be adopted to improve the environment and protect the wildlife in the region, the Himalaya Initiative of Centre for Environment Education (CEE Himalaya) organized events on World Environment Day, 6 June, at various locations across the Indian Himalayan Region through collaboration with local NGOs.

Celebrations in Western Himalaya

Jammu & Kashmir: CEE Himalaya organized World Environment Day 2016 on 5 June at Village Kulhama, Bandipora district, J&K. Village Kulhama is situated on the bank of the Wular Lake (one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia), a Ramsar site. Village Kulhama comprises of around 500 households with a population of around 3 000 people, who are completely dependent upon the Wular Lake for their livelihoods - fishing and harvesting plants such as the grass phragmites and the water lily-like nymph ides, water chestnut (trapa sp.) locally called singhara and lotus stems (called nadru) from the lake. In addition, there has been increases incidence of hunting of local and migratory birds for their trade.

Mubashir Zargar from CEE Kashmir explained the background of World Environment Day and its significance to the participants. The lake sustains a rich population of birds.He then explained the increasing incidences of decreasing biological diversity of Wular Lake including loss of some important endemic and endangered species due to human encroachment and hunting of local and migratory birds linking it with the WED 2016 theme “Zero Tolerance for Illegal Wildlife Trade”. The significant role of wildlife in sustaining Wular Lake, source of livelihoods for the community, was explained to the locals. He said that it is unfortunate that for some monetary benefits and for a very little meat and pouch we hunt/catch these precious wetland birds and disturb the ecological balance. Because birds are so common in most habitats, we often overlook their ecological significance. However, their ecological roles are incredibly important.

Celebrations in Central Himalaya

Uttarakhand: CEE Himalaya in collaboration with JSW Foundation and RCE Srinagar organized World Environment Day on 5 June 2016 at Mushtiksaur, Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. The objective of the programme was to make villagers aware of various issues surrounding their environment, the problems, the solutions, and individual as well as collective responsibilities of the villagers.

The eminent guests at the event included Gram Pradhans from five villages - Kuroli, Sara, Bongari, Kankrari and Mastari - along with some other members from the local government bodies like Mahila Mangal Dal, Yuva Mangal Dal, Chetra panchayat, etc. The event was attended by around 135 people.
Participants were welcomed by Kushpal Singh of the CEE Uttarkashi Team, a song ‘Paryavaran ki thani’ (commitment for environment protection) by TISS interns, followed by speeches from the invited guest and plantation by villagers and guests. Speeches covered environmental conservation, the need for improvement in waste management, income generation and livelihood options utilizing biodiversity, problems with pollution, untimely rains and cloudbursts (Chamoli and Rudraprayag), the importance of community in environmental conservation, the them “Go Wild for Life - Zero tolerance for the illegal wildlife trade”, undocumented forest fires, the traditional practice of nature worship and conservation in the villages. Saplings of traditional trees were planted in the inter-college premises by the villagers, the invited guests and the CEE Team.

Celebrations in Eastern Himalaya

Sikkim: CEE Himalaya celebrated World Environment Day with student and teachers of Deorali Senior Secondary School, Gangtok, Sikkim. The occasion was observed for two days comprising of plantation on first day and various programmes and activities were organized for the students on the second day.

The programme began by informing students about the importance of environment and how each living being is a vital component of this environment. Significance and varied themes of World Environment Day were conveyed to the audience by senior students of the school. The students performed an action song on the theme of WED 2016 showcasing the wildlife of Sikkim namely Himalayan Black Bear, Red Panda and Himalayan Thar as well as focused on some which have become extinct due to ill legal trafficking. Environmental Club of the school was presented a token of appreciation for their work in environmental awareness and conservation.

Thereafter, various activities were organized for students - painting; mask making, exhibition and plantation. To convey the theme and to make students more aware of Sikkim wildlife and potential dangers to it, students prepared masks representing the different wildlife.

Manipur: Centre for Environment Education, Guwahati celebrated World Environment Day 2015 with Naga Hindi Vidyapeeth Minuthong (NHV), Imphal, Evangelical Free Church of India (EFCI), Rengkai and Leimatak Employee Church (LEC), Churachandpur. The event was conducted at LEC Leimatak and Sunday School Hall of EFCI, Rengkai, Churachandpur with around 100 children. The event was graced by Sunday School Superintendent Vanlalhmuok, Sunday school conductors PC Elizabeth, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan School teacher Roslyn Lalneihlu and village elders were also present in the WED celebration with Arlin Lalnunmawi proprietor of “Arlin Decors” as a decorator and photographer of the event.

Speeches addressed concerns about the decreasing natural forests and wildlife, the need for more environmental conservation, the lack of environmental awareness and inspirational facts about the environment and its importance. Participants planted saplings and were thanked by Secretary Naga Hindi Vidyapeeth.

Mizoram: CEE North East in association with Bru Cultural Organization celebrated World Environment Day on 5 June 2016, at Bru Christian Fellowship (BCF) Hall, Mission Veng Aizawl, Mizoram. Around 132 participants attended the programme. G. Zonunkima and Lalremruata were the resource persons for event. The resource persons deliberated the subject “Wildlife Illegal trade in Mizoram & Wildlife Conservation Acts, 1972”. Group discussion was conducted with the participants inviting their views and suggestion in curbing illegal wildlife trade.

Assam: An outreach programme involving 57 eco-club students from standard VIII, IX & X, 3 teachers & Principal Lakhipather High School, Tinsukia, Assam, India was held on the 5th of June, 2016. The programme was conjointly organized by EdEn, an organization working for Environmental Education in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh Districts of Assam, India and CEE - Centre for Environment Education (Himalaya Initiative).

Lakhipather lies along the Eastern South Bank Landscape which connects the Dihing Patkai Elephant Reserve with corridors ranging from India to Myanmar. Lakhipather High School is also one of the schools implementing the North East India Asian Elephant Conservation Education Programme of CEE (Centre for Environment Education).
Tripura: CEE Himalaya sponsored an event to mark World Environment Day 2016. The event was celebrated in collaboration with Prayas – Teliamura, District Forest Khowai, Tripura State Pollution Control Board and Teliamura Municipal Council and CEE Guwahati. Series of events were on 29 May, 3 and 5 June.

The festivities included a drawing competition with participation of 450 students, a cultural programme and plantation, performances by local artists, remarks by dignitaries, seedlings plantings, a seminar, cultural events, award and scholarship presentations, book distribution. All participants at the numerous and well attended events pledged to take further action and spread the word among peer groups and community.

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