Gangtok, 13 Nov (IPR): Principal Secretary-cum- Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Mr. M.L. Srivastava, IFS chaired a press conference today at the Tragopan Meeting Room of Forest Secretariat in Deorali with regard to the upcoming three-daylong workshop on “Challenges for Biodiversity Conservation and Human-Wildlife Conflict – Identifying the Problems and Possible Solutions” scheduled to be held from 15-17 Nov at Chintan Bhawan.

The conference organized by FE&WM Department also had the presence of Chief Conservator of Forest (T/HQ), Additional Project Director-I (SBFP-JICA), SBFP Project Director, Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) and Joint Director (KNP) along with other officials and the Press and media fraternity.
Outlining a brief of the workshop, it is informed that a delegation from Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), India office and JICA Tokyo led by chief representative, Mr. Katsuo Matsumoto, will be present during the three-daylong workshop. Joint Forest Management Committees, Eco-Development Committees and Non Governmental Organisations will also be participating in the event.

Additionally, 12 states including Sikkim along with esteemed institutes like Wildlife Institute of India and Indian Institute of Forest Management will also discuss and share their knowledge, experiences and success stories in order to address the multifaceted complexities of the growing and intensifying conservation challenges.

A meeting with the heads of line departments of the State will also be convened under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Government of Sikkim in the sidelines of the workshop for discussing prospective projects. Hon’ble Speaker, SLA, Mr. L.B. Das, will be inaugurating the workshop as chief guest on 15 Nov at Chintan Bhawan.

Principal Secretary/PCCF, Mr. Srivastava, in his address, informed that JICA assisted Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation & Forest Management Project (SBFP) under FE&WM Department is holding the workshop for its commitment towards biodiversity conservation while also involving local people for strengthening inclusive management.

Highlighting on various activities factored in the State of Sikkim under JICA, Mr. Srivastava stated that the basic objective is biodiversity conservation by means of strengthening the forest management capacity, infrastructure building, conducting scientific studies and researches while simultaneously improving the livelihood of the local people who are forest dependent.
Expressing concern over important issues envisaging crop raiding incidences by wild pig, Indian Peafowl, Porcupine and Civet Cat, monkey menace and bear attacks leading to casualties, he stated that experts, specialists and senior officials have been invited for the three-daylong workshop in order to discuss, debate and discover the means to mitigate these issues of human-wildlife conflict.

On behalf of the Hon’ble Forest Minister and the FE&WM Department, Mr. Srivastava invited all for their active participation in the workshop to understand human-wildlife conflict while identifying the problems and its solutions. He also extended gratitude to the Press and media personnel for attending the conference and urged for wide coverage of the programme for dissemination of systematic and proper information to the public at large.
The conference was also addressed by APD-I (SBFP-JICA), Mr. Karma D. Leghshey and CCF (T/HQ), Mr. B.P. Pradhan.