Itanagar: In Arunachal Pradesh, where hunting has become a community practice full of history and culture, ‘Abhiyan Surrender Water Gun’ spinning new hopes for conservation with more than 2,000 weapons submitted voluntarily since it was launched in March.
The state environment and forest minister Mama Natung, who masterminded the initiative, said this program was completely voluntary and aiming gradually facilitating people in the concept of conservation.
“We want to increase conservation awareness.
Arunachal covers an area of 83,743 square kilometers, where 80% are covered with forests where we have 500 species of birds and animals, maybe many more have been found.
If we continue to kill them, our forests will be lost , “said Natung.
Over the past few months, his team has collaborated with the district government, officials of the Ministry of Forestry, NGOs and Community Based Organizations (CBO) in the field to drive awareness.
The program was launched on March 17 at Lumdung Village in the Kameng Timur district where 46 air weapons surrendered.
Instead, the person got award certificate.
The Minister also appealed to the Government of Assam and Nagaland to examine the murder of birds and animals in their country.
“There is no geographical limit for birds and wildlife.
They move free from one country to another.
Our conservation efforts will be in vain if people in our neighboring countries continue to kill wildlife and birds indiscriminately,” Natung said.
Previously, hunting more than seasonal activity, especially limited to tribal rituals, he said.
“With the proliferation of air weapons and rifles, found free on the market, hunting has improved manifolds in Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.
“We also work on plans to compensate for those who surrender their weapons,” he said.
CM Pema Khandu recently said for a campaign to succeed, he must appear as a movement of people adding that the campaign will be far from success if people don’t promise ‘don’t eat wild meat’.
The minister’s chairman said hunting during the festival was ancient practice and could not be stopped by legal or government orders but must be contemplated by the elders and children.
Submission of air guns can be a conservation silver bullet
