Fireline Making at Langol Punshilok Forest to commence today

As winter season has already set in, Wildlife and Habitat Protection Society (WAHPS) will carry out its annual fireline (Meiram haiba) exercise at Punshilok, Langol Hill Range from November 17-23, 2023. This is an annual voluntary effort by the WAHPS members in order to prevent the Punshilok forest from wild or man-made fires in view of the impending dry season.
A statement by the Wildlife and Habitat Protection Society (WAHPS) said that a fireline is made by creating a gap in the vegetation at a forest to prevent the conservation site from approaching fire. It is important to highlight that every year, forest fire engulfs a large part of Langol hill range. Unfortunately, the primary cause of fire originates from human misdeeds.
WAHPS statement said that the society believes that the reserved forest of Langol and Nongmaiching Hill ranges are the lungs of Imphal city. The two hill ranges play a pivotal role of purifying the polluted city air. Conserving forests and wildlife should begin from our nearest reserved forests – Langol and Nongmaiching, especially for urban dwellers.
Given the current law and order situation prevailing in the state, WAHPS appeals to the general public, more particularly to the residents of Langol, Lamdeng and Eroishemba areas not to get panicked by the fireline activities. This exercise of fireline is to be carried out by WAHPS as a part of Joint Forest Management activity.
It may be recalled that last year, the Forest Department issued a notice banning picnic at Langol Hill Range when a forest fire originating from an ember left by picnickers engulfed large forest areas. The Forest Department personnel and members of WAHPS took part in extinguishing the wildfire which even crossed the fireline mark at Punsilok forest to some extent. Keeping this in view, WAHPS appeals for maximum cooperation from the public in conserving forests and wildlife.