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For the past 18 years, Imphal resident Moirangthem Loiya has been protecting nature and fighting deforestation. Loiya is responsible for replanting a forest names Punshilok, meaning ‘Spring of Life’.
Manipur man saves countless flora & fauna by replanting 300-acre forest
45-year-old Moirangthem Loiya, a resident of Uripok Khaidem Leikai in Imphal West, northeastern India, began planting trees at the Maru Langol hill range around 2002. In 2003, Loiya and his friends established the Wildlife And Habitat Protection Society (WAHPS) to look after the natural wealth of Punshilok. Punshilok forest area now covers some 300 acres, with around 250 species of plants and 25 species of bamboo. The forest is home to birds, snakes and wild animals such as barking deer, pangolin, leopard cat, deer, porcupine, mongoose and many more.
The land that had been burnt for cultivation is back to being a lush green forest.Source: IndiaTimes
The forest is named Punshilok, meaning ‘Spring of Life’
At a time when global warming and climate change are dictating geopolitics, 45-year-old Moirangthem Loiya from Manipur comes across as a leading light. – reports the Times of India.
For the past 18 years, Loiya, a resident of Uripok Khaidem Leikai in Imphal West, northeastern India, has been protecting nature and fighting deforestation. He is responsible for replanting a forest named Punshilok, meaning ‘Spring of Life’. Punshilok is a living testament to his tireless efforts to protect nature and fight pollution.
Aerial view of Punshilok. As a child, Loiya often visited the lush green Koubru peak in Senapati district, Manipur. But in 2000, after finishing college, he went back and couldn’t believe his eyes — what was once a lush green peak, was now devastated. Source: IndiaTimes Punshilok covered with thin layer of fog. Determined to bring the greenery back, around 2002, Loiya started looking for land to plant trees. His search, guided by a local took him to the Maru Langol hill range, the place where his efforts to build a forest took shape. The place where the local guided him did not have even a single tree as it had been burnt down by locals for rice cultivation. Source: IndiaTimes Moirangthem Loiya (R) with volunteers of WAHPS. Loiya left his job as a medical representative, packed some clothes and food and started living in Punshilok in a small hut he built himself. He lived there for six long years, toiling alone planting bamboo, oak, ficus, magnolia, teak, and jackfruit trees among others. Source: IndiaTimes Loiya planting saplings along with local children. Initially, Loiya purchased seeds of only three tree varieties. With the help of a few friends and volunteers, he cleared the weeds, and started planting them. The vegetative growth was quick because of a natural spring in the area — one that has historically been revered by the locals. Source: IndiaTimes
Even the government approves Loiya’s reforestation efforts
So was the government okay with Loiya efforts, particularly since he was working on forest land that comes under the state forest reserve region?
The state forest department has demolished many illegal houses built by local people around the area to protect the forest.
Nandeibam Mobi Singh, range forest officer (RFO), told The Times of India, “Any sort of construction inside the forest reserve region would be considered an illegal encroachment, but since Loiya was acting as a helping hand in preservation and creating a green landfill of the forest cover, the initiative was not considered an illegal act.”
“Article 51-A (g) of the Indian constitution clearly imposes a duty on every citizen to protect the environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures. Loiya and his organisation are adhering to this article of the constitution by being responsible citizens of the country,”explains Singh.
Volunteers of WAHPSSource: IndiaTimes In 2003, Loiya and his friends established the Wildlife And Habitat Protection Society (WAHPS). Along with volunteers, WAHPS looks after the natural wealth of Punshilok. Source: IndiaTimes Around 25 species of bamboo are grown in Punshilok forestSource: IndiaTimes Cymbidium erythraeum – one of the many a species of orchid found in Punshilok Source: IndiaTimes Red-necked keelback (L) Today, Punshilok forest area covers around 300 acres. It is rich in flora and fauna, with varieties of trees, shrubs and medicinal plants getting a new home on the hilltops. Around 250 species of plants and around 25 species of bamboo grow here. The green cover is also home to a variety of birds, snakes and wild animals like barking deer, pangolin, porcupine, mongoose, leopard cat, deer, among others. Source: IndiaTimes Black-banded trinket snake The locals too can feel the difference the forest has made to the climate over the past decade. “Temperature has gone down considerably and chirping of birds can be heard all year round,” says Kunjaksor, a native of Imphal. Source: IndiaTimes Fulvous-breasted woodpeckerSource: IndiaTimes Wedge-tailed green pigeon Loiya and volunteers with the help of the forest department have saved many parts of the forest from fire and indiscriminate cutting of trees and poaching has stopped. Source: IndiaTimes Tree house built for visitors “Since the place caught people’s attention, a large number of visitors including locals and international foreign nationals have visited the place to explore its breathtaking beauty of the forest,” said Loiya. Source: IndiaTimes Irom Chanu Sharmila planted a Wild Mango sapling in Punshilok “Activist Irom Chanu Sharmila visited Punshilok in September 2016 after she ended her 16-year fast. She planted a Wild Mango sapling in Punshilok,” he recounts, beaming with pride. Source: IndiaTimes The speedy growth of the forest is due to regular maintenance activities of WAHPS and state forest department. Both the associations have put great efforts in the past to put out forest fires. Source: IndiaTimes Dendrobium primulinum – another orchid species – growing wild in Punshilok Source: IndiaTimes Breathtaking beauty of Punshilok forestSource: IndiaTimes ‘It is time that such environment warriors are honoured at national level.’ — Times of India For Loiya, Punshilok is a life-long mission. To earn a living, Loiya works as a pharmacist in his brother’s medical store and does organic farming, but his life mission is to plant more trees and continue creating more forest land. Loiya says, “I consider myself a painter. Other artists use canvas, brush and colour to paint, but I used a face of hills as my canvas and planted trees, flowers to paint. It has taken a lifetime to draw this — it is living art.” Source: IndiaTimes
This Manipur man quit his job to save flora and fauna by replanting a 300-acre forest Moirangthem Loiya has replanted Punshilok forest in Langol hill-range in 17 years. Loiya hails from Uripok Khaidem Leikai in Imphal West. His story is an inspiration for all given how much flora and fauna he has saved single-handedly. While speaking to ANI said, “Today, forest area covers 300 acres. Around 250 species of plants and 25 species of bamboo grow here and its home to a variety of birds, snakes and wild animals.” Source: YouTube/ANI-News
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Forests cover almost a third of the Earth’s surface, including some 700+ million acres in the U.S. alone. They’re home to a huge variety of plants and animals, and provide people all over the world with food, fuel, medicine and more. But perhaps most importantly, forests provide us with oxygen and ensure that the Earth’s temperature is livable. What can we do to return the favor? Here are some simple ways kids can help save trees.
