ITANAGAR, Nov 9: A documentary showcasing the ecological wealth and biodiversity of Arunachal Pradesh’s Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve was launched by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein during the 9th Namdapha Butterfly Festival 2026 at Miao in Changlang district on October 31.
Titled “Namdapha: A Story of Life”, the documentary has been produced by DD News Arunachal with the objective of taking the ecological significance of one of the state's richest biodiversity hotspots to a wider audience.
Through visual documentation, the film captures Namdapha's diverse ecosystems, natural habitats, flora and fauna, while drawing attention to the importance of protecting its fragile ecological balance.
The launch was attended by Assembly Speaker Tesam Pongte, MLA and Advisor to the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Wanglin Lowangdong, Miao MLA Kamlung Mosang, Nampong MLA Laisam Simai and Department of Tourism Chairman Izmir Tikhak, besides senior district officials, Forest Department representatives, Assam Rifles personnel and community leaders.
Joining the programme virtually, DD News Arunachal Joint Director Utsav Parmar acknowledged the support of the state Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department and Namdapha National Park authorities in bringing the documentary to fruition.
He said documenting Namdapha's biodiversity alongside traditional folklore, indigenous knowledge and the relationship between forests and local communities was essential to building greater public understanding of conservation. Such efforts, he added, would also help highlight the role of indigenous communities in protecting the natural environment.
The dignitaries stressed that safeguarding Namdapha's ecological heritage required active participation of local communities and coordinated efforts by the Forest Department and other stakeholders.
They also called for greater environmental awareness among young people, stronger community-led conservation initiatives and the promotion of sustainable livelihood opportunities through responsible nature-based tourism.
The documentary launch added a visual and educational dimension to the Namdapha Butterfly Festival, which provides a common platform for researchers, conservationists, government agencies, local communities and nature enthusiasts to discuss biodiversity protection and celebrate the region's natural heritage.