The 5th of June each year is observed all across the globe as World Environment Day under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme, and this year the event is focused specifically on climate change.
As is observed all over the world, the fishing community of Champu Khangpok Floating Island village in the midst of the freshwater wetland Loktak Lake in Manipur observed the day with symbolic planting of banana and mango saplings on Phumdi – floating mat of biomass.
Speaking on the occasion, Champu Khangpok dweller Oinam Rajen Singh highlighted the significance of the observation where the United Nations is specifically focusing on the long term impacts of climate change.
Stressing that water bodies like Loktak Lake is extremely important in climate change mitigation strategies wherein wetlands are known to be good carbon sinks, Rajen called upon the State authorities to work for the long term conservation of Loktak which is a lifeline for the communities dependent entirely on its resources for their livelihoods.
Taking part in the day’s event, Bishnupur-based People’s Resources Development Association’s field coordinator Soibam Boby Devi noted the importance of the fisher families’ active participation in conservation strategies for the wetland.
Boby called upon the fishing community to work diligently for preserving and conserving edible aquatic plant species and native fish species which are critically threatened today and which are sources for food and livelihoods for the lake dependent fisher families.
Champu Khangpok is a uniquely placed hamlet within Loktak Lake and recognized by the Bishnupur District Administration as a Census Village within Thanga Part-I Gram Panchayat under Moirang Subdivision of Bishnupur District. The uniqueness of the village arises from the fact that it is identifiable as one of the few ‘natural floating island villages in the entire world’.