24 villages from Longhim-Chare join ENCAN

DIMAPUR: A workshop on biodiversity conservation was held on April 20 at Town Hall, Longkhim HQ hosted by Eastern Nagaland Conservation Areas Network (ENCAN) and organised by Better Life Foundation, Longkhim.
Pro Rural, a national NGO partnered in this effort and village council chairmen, head GBs and student leaders from entire Longhim Sub Division attended the workshop.
The participants were deliberated on challenges faced regarding biodiversity and its preservation in an open house self-facilitated participatory discussion in a flat “circle of learning”. Experiences on efforts made so far were discussed and analyzed.
Meanwhile, during the workshop, resolutions were passed where villages agreed that they were concerned about the alarming depletion of natural environment and would take steps to arrest it; consultative inter-village mechanisms would be set up to enforce bans assisted by village student unions; the four ranges of Longkhim-Chare area would meet and prepare range specific action plans based on their real situations to ENCAN by May 5 and all 24 villages of Longkhim-Chare area would join ENCAN en masse with immediate effect.
In a press statement, Pongsochu Raj Verma advisor ENCAN said ENCAN was set up in December 2010 last comprising of 45 villages of Eastern Nagaland stretching from Aboi area of Mon in the north to the Saramati range of Kiphire extreme south.
The network has grown since then to include Chingmei and Noklak ranges, all villages under Longleng district and includes villages under Shamator sub division of Tuensang district.
With the joining of these 24 villages, the ENCAN now comprises of 133 villages with more to follow.