Maraland

This post shares a 'thanking - note' written for Maraland dot net. They have been very encouraging (specially over the blog) and have shared a translated version of this note and more on their very interesting website here. Thanks once again; very touched specially your email (sharing part of it here) "We hope that we will realize the importance of preserving the flora and fauna of our land before it gets destroyed by our own actions. May the flame of preserving them started by your team keep burning in our land! "


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Hi,

At the onset I would like to thank you for your kind words.

Three years at Saiha that began during September 2007 have been an experience very close to me and yet very difficult to put in words (despite the blog!). My colleagues had been here earlier to conduct a baseline survey of the mammals and birds occuring in the region. This exercise they undertook with the Environment and Forest department of the Mara Autonomous District Council. The survey brought out hunting / people’s perception as the major threat to the amazing biodiversity this region harbours. I came in and we initiated a program that primarily focussed on conservation education / awareness.

We undertook actions with school going children, their teachers, MTP members, Village Council members and forest department personnel in the initial stages at Saiha, Tuipang and Phura. Film screenings on laptop computers, power point presentations on wildlife in Mizoram, discussions on beliefs concerning wildlife in South Mizoram, Hoolock Gibbons in Maraland and other actions were undertaken. As the partnerships flowered we began contributing to newletter bought out by KTP – Epatha and attended and shared our experiences at events organized by MTP and MSO. Also on the plate were undertaking surveys with forest department and  participating in trainings for forest department personnel. We undertook documentation of these invigorating experiences and shared it online.

Towards the second half of our stay the actions spread to Chakhang and we also worked with the Lawngtlai Forest Division. The later enabled me to visit Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary and Blue Mountain National Park, something that I waiting long for. Some species we came across (Sarivaithun or the Yellow bellied weasel being one) we wrote of in journals and also shared our experiences in magazines.

Personally it has been a very satisfying experience but I still wish that people in Maraland shower the kindness they bestowed on me to the wildlife here. Hunting / trapping wildlife and keeping them as pets need to be done away with if people from Maraland want to retain the amazing forests their lands harbour. They are the chosen ones in that such forests do not occur in other parts of the state (or even beyond) and now they can choose if they want to retain them for their children and grand-children.

I ponder a little as I write this and realize that I will never be able to sufficiently thank people in Maraland for the sharing their time, knowledge, meals, rooms and warmth and the experiences here I shall cherish for long; sitting at Palak Dil in alluring silence, walking the forests of south of Lomasu – absolutely stunned, walking the stairs down from our home to the New Saiha market, watching football action on the helipad .......

Also, please feel free to use text / images from the blog; Maraland.Net doing so will only help the cause of the blog.

Warm regards,

Nimesh.

Blog: http://mizoram-samrakshan.blogspot.com/