HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, Nov 2: French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou visited the Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve on Sunday as part of his official tour to review initiatives under the Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC) Phase-II, supported by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
Mathou was accompanied by Lise Breuil, Country Director of AFD, New Delhi; Thierry Morel, Consul General of France in Kolkata; Samuel Bouchard, Chargé de Mission – Influence et Coopération; and Anurag Singh, APCCF and Project Director, APFBC Phase-II.
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During the visit, the delegation interacted with Piraisoodan B., Divisional Forest Officer, Western Assam Wildlife Division-cum-Field Director, Nameri Tiger Reserve, and other forest officials.
The Field Director presented an overview of key interventions undertaken under the APFBC Phase-II Project, focusing on habitat restoration, wetland rejuvenation, eco-tourism, and the conservation of the White-winged Wood Duck.
The Ambassador also met members of Eco-Development Committees working in the buffer areas of Nameri and appreciated their contribution to community-based conservation and eco-tourism.
Later, Mathou undertook a Gypsy safari inside the Tiger Reserve to experience its diverse ecosystem and wildlife. He expressed appreciation for the ongoing conservation initiatives, particularly efforts to protect the White-winged Wood Duck, Assam’s State Bird, and the role of the Nameri Eco-Camp at Hatigate in linking local livelihoods with sustainable tourism.
The visit concluded with an ethnic lunch hosted at the Nameri Eco-Camp by the community-run management team.
