ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Principal Chief Conservator of Forests B S Sajwan today said the State government would soon enact its own Forest Act to protect the virgin forests, besides various flora and fauna in the State. “We are serious about framing our own forest laws to protect the State’s biodiversity,” he said while responding to queries during a Press conference here this morning. He, however, declined to divulge the time frame by which the Act would be ready and said that the process would start soon. “It will be a time taking process and we will have to discuss all the pros and cons of the Act with various stakeholders before framing the laws,” he said. Arunachal Pradesh at present is following Assam Forest Regulation Act (AFRA), 1891. Replying to another query regarding impact on environment with construction of various hydro-power projects in the State, Sajwan said that the ministry of environment and forest conducted Environment Impact Assessment before giving approval to any project. On the Forest Protection Force (FPF) and Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), which was approved by the State Assembly recently, the PCCF informed that the State government would ensure empowering the forces to function with all powers. “The Centre has sanctioned an STPF company, especially for Pakke Tiger Reserve in East Kameng district and has agreed to bear all the expenditure. We are also going to submit a similar proposal soon for Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Changlang district,” he added. Sajwan, meanwhile, said that a 22-member delegation from the State would participate in the side event of the ongoing XI Conference of Parties Convention on Biological Diversity (COP11) at Hyderabad. In the side event to be held on October 18 next, the delegation would share experiences and increasing opportunities for informal dialogue among the meetings’ participants. “Different indigenous and new approaches in natural resource management in the bio-culturally diverse State of Arunachal Pradesh will be highlighted in the side event,” he added.