GUWAHATI:
Guwahati Range of Kamrup East Forest Division observed World Wetlands Day on February 2 in association with the Department of Environmental Science of Gauhati University and leading biodiversity organisation Aranyak at Khamrenga Beel of Chandrapur with the theme – Youth Engagement in Conservation and Restoration of Wetlands.
Two batches of postgraduate (PG) students of the Environmental Science Dept participated in the awareness programme along with the faculty members jointly with officials of Guwahati Range and Amchang Wildlife Range.
Khamrenga beel, which is located in the vicinity of Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary, is regularly used by a large herd of elephants of about 150-200 individuals.
During the interaction with the participants, Ranger Officer Pranjal Baruah briefed them about the status, biodiversity, importance and problems of beel, while NC Deka, chairman of Chandrapur Biodiversity Management Committee and a guest at the event, gave a speech on the importance and history of the beel.
Two other guests – Bhadreswar Baruah and Deep Boro – talked about the elephants and the history of Amchang WLS.
Officials of Aranyak, headed by Pranab Goswami and faculty members of the Environmental Science Department, also gave them a fair idea on the scope and future responsibilities of the young generations in the conservation and protection of such important beels which can only be done in a holistic approach of different stakeholders such as people’s participation, scientific research by independent researchers and enforcement of legal provisions of relevant Acts.
Dr Bidyot Bikash Sarma of the Environmental Science Department also shared his valuable field experiences of Amchang WLS and encouraged the students to be a part of its conservation journey through independent study with the support of NGOs, forest department and people.