PCCF, Nagaland unveils falcon conservation plaque

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Nagaland and Head of Forest Department, M Lokeswara Rao unveiled the Amur falcon conservation plaque near the roosting site in Pangti village under Wokha district.
Speaking on the occasion yesterday, Rao said the conservation plaque of Amur falcon will be turned in the monument in future as it reveals the story of effort of people of Pangti towards conservation of wildlife.
He said the big conservation moment started in Nagaland with the preservation of Amur Falcon by Pangti village communities and conservation movement has spread all over and communities are now committed to preserve the rich biodiversity of state.

Rao felt that the conservation movement should continue while asserting that the Forest department has committed to protect and conserve the rich biodiversity of the state with the help of communities.
He informed Pangti has been nominated for India Bio-diversity Award 2016.
The migratory bird Amur falcons were first spotted roosting in Pangti in the year 2001 in flock of thousands.

In the subsequent years the flock increased into massive numbers.
Owing to lack of awareness for conservation of Wildlife, the village hunters by tradition started looking for the birds for delicacies. In the year 2006 the hunters started using net for trapping the birds on commercial scale for sustenance.

However, following news about random killing of Falcons in October 2012, Awareness campaign for protection & conservation of the migratory bird started on war footing in 2013 by State Forest and Wildlife Department and various NGOs.
Responding to awareness campaign of State Forest and Wildlife Department and various NGOs, the village council together with the entire community resolved to protect and conserve the migratory bird Amur Falcons and prohibited killing of Falcons in any form.
Pangti was declared as "Falcon Capital of World" in 2013.
In recognition of its efforts for protection and conservation of migratory bird, the Pangti Village Council has been conferred with various prestigious awards by various Agencies, which include The meritorious Award 2014 by Department of Forest, Government of Nagaland, The Governors Commendation Certificate Government of Nagaland, The Earth Heroes Awards 2014 by Royal bank of Scotland and The Balipara Foundation Award 2014 Assam.