A two-day international workshop on current and traditional practices for sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems got underway at Kohima Science College (A), Jotsoma, Kohima on 24th November 2022.

During the inaugural session, an MoU was signed between Kohima Science College and GIZ-India where Principal Kohima Science College Dr. Temjenwabang and Co-lead Climate Change and Circular economy Group-GIZ India, Dr. Thomas Lennartz were the signatories.

Dr. Thomas in his addressed expressed his happiness in signing the MoU with the Kohima Science College for sustainable livelihood. He said GIZ - initiated 18 projects all over India with various topics such as current markets, new India etc. He highlighted on the importance of Agriculture sector which he said is the corner stone. He also spoke on climate change and conservation & preservation of biodiversity. He also highlighted on the contribution of GIZ-India and the targets and contributions of the organization.

         Project Manager, GIZ India, Patricia Dorn virtually spoke on "Protection and sustainable Management of Aquatic Resources in the North Eastern Himalayan Region of India ". She encouraged the participants to guide the local community on sustainable management.

Additional PCCF, Nagaland, Ved Pal Singh said each one should give importance on traditional practices for sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems. He also spoke on the need to maintain the ecosystem so as to provide livelihood, food security, control floods and ground water level. He urged upon the participants to be good researchers and bring concrete data and to learn from the workshop.

The objective of the project is the protection and sustainable management of aquatic freshwater ecosystems in the states of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland. The project also aims to strengthen the knowledge and management capacities of state and local stakeholders for Climate-friendly management of Aquatic freshwater Ecosystems. The proposed major activities is to make strategic capacity building and training of relevant stakeholders to conduct inventors, surveys, data, analysis and establish an M&E system in collaboration with IFB Potsdam and others.

The program was attended by scientists, researchers and NGOs from various state biodiversity boards. Welcome address was delivered by Principal, Kohima Science College (A) Jotsoma, Dr Temjenwabang.

(Mhathung Ngullie, APRO)