FEB 4, 2026 (CHANDEL): The observance of World Wetland Day, along with an awareness programme on forest fires, was held at St. Paul Higher Secondary School, Liwa Changning, Chandel, on Wednesday. The event was organised by the Divisional Forest Office, Chandel, and was attended by 1,200 students, teachers, and forest staff. DFO, Chandel, Dr. N. Munal Meitei, and St. Paul’s Vice Principal, Albert Kom, spoke at the event.
DFO, Chandel, Dr. N. Munal Meitei, highlighted the importance of wetlands in supporting biodiversity and mitigating climate change. He said that wetlands are like the kidneys of the earth, filtering water and supporting life. He emphasised that wetlands cover only 2.3 per cent of Manipur’s land area but support 10.8 per cent of the country’s biodiversity.
Dr. Meitei noted that despite their importance, wetlands are facing threats from human activities such as encroachment, pollution, and climate change. He cited the example of Loktak Lake, stating that Manipur has lost 64 per cent of its wetland areas due to human activities. He added that there is a need to save not only Loktak Lake but also other wetlands like Pumlen Lake, Kharung Lake, Khoidum Lake, Lousi Lake, Loukoi Lake, Sanalake, Yaral Lake, Poirou Lake, Lamphel Lake, Waithou Lake, and others.
The theme for this year’s World Wetland Day is “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.” Dr. Meitei urged the audience to take steps to conserve wetlands and forests, emphasising their importance for future generations.
He also appealed to the public to protect forests, which are the heart of the earth, and wetlands, which are its kidneys. He said that forests provide oxygen, support biodiversity, and help mitigate climate change.
