Imphal, June 5: Every year, June 5 is celebrated as World Environment Day with a new theme. This year the theme is “Zero Tolerance for the Illegal Wildlife Trade.” Manipur also joined the rest of the world in observing this day with the Department of Forests & Environment organizing the state level function at Manipur Film Development Corporation (MFDC) Palace Compound, Imphal. I Hemochandra- Minister for Forests & Environment, Revenue, LW & Legislative Affairs, Shambhu Singh, IAS- Addl Chief Secretary (Forests & Envt), PN Prasad, IFS- PCCF& HOFF, K Angami, IFS- PCCF (Wildlife) and Dr. M Homeshwor Singh- Director, Directorate of Environment were present at the function as Chief Guest, President and Guests of Honour respectively. The day is celebrated to raise global awareness about the significance of a healthy environment and to solve various environmental issues by implementing some actions to protect nature and Earth, leading to a positive and healthy environment for all. World Environment Day is run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This year’s theme has encouraged a fight against wildlife crime. The day was established in 1972 by the United Nation, after the United States instituted the Earth Day. As per UNEP, the growing ‘illegal trade in wildlife products is eroding Earth’s precious biodiversity and robbing us of our natural heritage’ and all the illegal trade has been pushing species into extinction. The dignitaries of today’s observation function stated the increasing importance of the need for conserving and protecting the environment as global warming and climate change has become a reality and that the drastic changes in the temperature and climate has caused widespread and life threatening damages the world over. Protecting and conserving wildlife by preventing illegal wildlife trade is vital in trying to rebuild the damaged balance of the ecosystem and saving the future. Saplings of various indigenous plants were also distributed by the Chief Guest as a part of the observation function.
