Aaranyak Supports Manas World Heritage Site with Two New Patrolling Vehicles

Mr. Kampa Borgoyari, Executive Member, Forest & Tourism and Mr. G C Basumatary, CHD, Forest and Env, BTC formally receiving the vehicles for MNP from Secretary general of Aaranyak

Kokrajhar, 8^th July 2006: Aaranyak, a society for biodiversity conservation in northeast India, has offered two Mahindra Maxx Pick Up vehicles to the Manas National Park cum World Heritage Site in association with the Rapid Response Facility of project of the Flora and Fauna International, World Heritage Centre of the UNESCO and the United Nations Foundation. In a ceremony held at the secretariat of the Bodoland Territorial Council at Kokrajhar today, the two vehicles were formally handed over to the Deputy Chief Executive Member of BTC, Mr. Khampa Borgoyari who is also holding the Forest Department of BTC.

Earlier Dr. Hilloljyoti Singha, the Publicity Secretary of Aaranyak has welcomed the guests and other dignitaries and explained the purpose of the meeting. Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, Secretary General of Aaranyak has mentioned the various conservation initiatives the organization has taken up since its inception. He has stressed the need of detailed forest cover mapping of the BTC area to prioritize the conservation options. Aaranyak has already set up a GIS lab, which imparts training as well as provides mapping facility.

The meeting was attended by some officers of the Forest Department, viz., Mr. G.C. Basumatary, the Chief Head of Department, Forests and Tourism, BTC, Mr. Abhijit Rabha, the Field Director of Manas Tiger Project, Mr. R. N. Brahma, DFO, Social Forestry & Wildlife, Mr. C. R. Bhobra, DFO, Kachugaon, Mrs. Sonali Ghosh, IFS, OSD, Computer & Sale Tax, Govt. of Assam, and Range Forest Officers, Mr. Bhaben Narzary, Senior Advocate of Gauhati High Court as well as member of the State Wildlife Advisory Board and legal advisor, Aaranyak. Members and coordinators of Aaranyak also took part in the meeting.

In his speech, Mr. G. C. Basumatary has appreciated Aaranyak for initiating so many projects. “Department of Forest is happy to have a partner in conservation of forest and wildlife,” he exclaimed. He thanked Aaranyak for helping Department of Forest for giving this gift, which would boost the conservation endeavour. He hopes that the lost glory would come back soon.

Mr. Abhijit Rabha, Field Director, Manas Tiger Project refreshed his memory regarding his first association with Aaranyak way back in 1989, when he stood first in a quiz competition organized by Aaranyak. He highlighted the contribution made by researchers of Aaranyak in preparation of management plan of Manas National Park. He said that though he has been working in Manas for number of years he was not able to have a camera Photograph, which was done for the first time by Aaranyak by snapping a photo of Royal Bengal Tiger. He was sad that much research works have not been conducted. Many explorations have to be made in this regard.  

Mr. N.K. Dey of Nature Foster, an active NGO in this region, which is also a partner organization of AARANYAK also spoke on the new atmosphere of working together, which has been off late created for better management of MANAS.

Deputy Chief of Bodoland Territorial council, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion delivered his speech on the various endeavours made by the BTC so far in the  field of conservation. He appreciated AARANYAK who has come close to him in a very short time as a contributor to his Department. He opined that conservation was a big movement and it involved lot of intricacies. He urged the research NGOs to work and to show a scientific way of preservation and conservation. He said that zest and zeal that AARANYAK has shown by donating the vehicles would be great help to the Department, which would add colour in the conservation, preservation and management effort. He, on behalf of the Council, has been trying to provide better infrastructure to the Department. He asked the NGOs to work in this regard for the infrastructure development of the enforcing agency.

  The meeting was concluded with vote of thanks offered by the Field Director of Manas Tiger Project on behalf of Forest Department and Mr. Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, Programme Secretary, Aaranyak.