ZIRO, Aug 26: Volunteers from the Apatani Youth Association (AYA) will help the forest department in protecting and conserving the environment and wildlife of Talley valley forest area.
The AYA volunteers joined hands with the Lower Subansiri forest department during a function at Siiro village on 25 August.
“The volunteers will help the department purely on self-help basis,” informed AYA president Habung Tamang.
They will also help the department in check illegal activities such as extraction of medicinal plants and other natural resources, illegal hunting, and occupation of the Talley valley forest area.
The volunteers will also act as nature guides to escort tourists and visitors to the Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.
Welcoming the AYA’s move, DFO Koj Rinya said the department would build the capacity of the volunteers by providing them with forest-related training.
Forest officials, including ACF Santosh Reddy and RFO Ngilyang Tachang, and members of the AYA were present on the occasion.
