Baripada: A mass awareness programme for the prevention of forest fire in Similipal Tiger Reserve was organized on Friday at Podadiha by Similipal South Wildlife Division.
According to an official press release, the event was attended by villagers and PRI members of 24 forest fringe villages of 08 gram panchayats and district administration officials of Udala, Kaptipada, and Thakurmunda blocks of Mayurbhanj district.
The adverse impact of forest fire on biodiversity, physical, social, and economic well-being of villagers, and its impact on local and global environment were explained by the Dy. Director, Similipal South Wildlife Division and DFO, Baripada Forest Division as well as other officials who graced the occasion.
All villagers and PRI members from fringe villages of Similipal Tiger Reserve were requested not to kindle fire inside the Sanctuary. It was also impressed at the meeting that increasing wild animal population like the unique pseudo-melanistic tigers in Similipal Tiger Reserve will bring economic prosperity in the region through ecotourism. Therefore, all should join hands for the conservation of the rich biodiversity of Similipal for future generations.
A total of 100 cattle graziers from Similipal fringe village were presented with one umbrella each through the Similipal Tiger Conservation Foundation. As they spend significant time inside the forest grazing their cattle, they were requested to prevent forest fires and inform fire incidences to the control room or the nearest forest personnel at the earliest for immediate mitigation measures.
