Arunachal villagers fight losing battle to save forest
For Prelims
About Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
- Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is the multifaceted, transnational, modern construction organisation created to meet the strategic needs of the armed forces.
- The Border Roads Organisation has been functioning under the control of the Ministry of Defence since 2015.
- It plays a role in socio economic development of the nation through its contribution to infrastructure development.
- BRO plays an important part in the infrastructure development of the border areas of the country.
About Indian Red Panda:
IUCN Status: Endangered
CITES: Appendix I
Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
- They have been selected as the state animal of Sikkim.
- Red Pandas are endemic to the forests of India, Nepal, Bhutan and the northern mountains of Myanmar and southern China.
About Nyukmadong War Memorial
- Nyukmadong War Memorial is in the form of a 25 feet high ‘Chorten’(Tibetan Buddhist shrine) conforming to the local ethos and traditions.
- Nyukmadong War Memorial is erected in honour of officers and Jawans, who died there on 18 Nov 1962 during the Indo-China war of 1962.
For Mains
The Issue?
- 80% of a 36-sq. km sacred forest has been destroyed for a “strategic” road to Sela.
- The amount of trees felled during construction of the road is negligible compared to the damage done by earth dumped indiscriminately on valuable trees and medicinal plants down the slope from the edge of the under-construction road.
- Other than Nyukmadong some other areas such as Gyandrabrangsa, Halftangmu, Penpeytang, Chendhuphu, Yangphu and Changphunakphu have also been impacted by the construction of these roads.
The need to protect this area?
- The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has declared this area as a community reserve forest because of its rich biodiversity.
- The Indian Red Panda (IUCN Status: Endangered) is found in this area.
Source THE HINDU
