By Newsgram Staff Writer

The Doyang Reservoir under Sungro Range is a habitat to different species of butterflies. And as a part of conservation of these insects, the Wildlife Trust of India in Nagaland has initiated a Rapid Action Project(RAP) to document them.

The RAP will focus on sensitizing locals on butterflies that inhabit the reservoir and their documentation will be done by photo-identification, officials said.

A local expert W Oponthung Jami will carry out the project, launched in association with Charities Aid Foundation.

Talking about the rich biodiversity of the area Jami said, "Butterflies are witnessing a drastic drop owing to increasing anthropogenic activities in their natural habitats and their dwindling numbers could create a huge imbalance in the ecosystem which would be difficult to reverse."

"The role that insects, especially butterflies, play in the Eco-system hardly comes into the limelight. It is high time, the concerned stakeholders should initiate protection and conservation measures to sustain their population in the area," he said.

Direct involvement of people in conservation activities ensure that they become stakeholders in protecting flora and fauna of the area, Jami said.