PoliticsNagaland
Nagaland’s declining forest cover raises concern at state-level conservation workshop
Our Correspondent Kohima | November 4Concern over declining forest cover in Nagaland and the need for stronger community participation in biodiversity conservation featured prominently at a two-day state-level workshop of the Forest and Biodiversity Management Project (FBMP), which concluded on November 4.The workshop, held under the theme “Community Conservation: Celebrating Success and Charting the Future,” brought together representatives from 64 participating villages to share experiences of village-level conservation initiatives and discuss ways to strengthen community stewardship of forests and biodiversity.According to a press release, Y Khikheto Sema, Principal Secretary of the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Chairman of the Nagaland State Biodiversity Board, expressed concern over the declining forest cover in the state and stressed the need for active community participation to safeguard forests and biodiversity for future generations.Addressing the valedictory session, Sema urged representatives of the participating villages to become advocates of biodiversity conservation at the grassroots level and disseminate the knowledge gained during the workshop through community platforms.Y Khikheto Sema, Principal Secretary, Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, and NSBB Chairman addresses the valedictory session of the two-day state-level workshop of the Forest and Biodiversity Management Project in Nagaland on November 4 in Kohima.  He also called for the responsible use of Nagaland’s special constitutional safeguards to support the state’s overall development and progress.Sema also highlighted the importance of community-level consultations in understanding local realities, identifying practical solutions and informing future conservation planning and policy development.Giving an overview and way forward of the workshop, Sidramappa Chalkapure, Chief Conservator of Forests and Project Director of FBMP, emphasised sustained collaboration among government departments, technical experts, research institutions and local communities to address challenges in biodiversity conservation and management. He urged participants to take the lessons from the workshop back to their respective villages.Village representatives shared experiences of initiatives undertaken under the project, including equipment distribution, Entry Point Activities, institutional connectivity and conservation measures. These interventions were described as contributing to forest restoration and improved livelihoods through sustainable activities.The workshop reaffirmed the importance of community-based conservation and coordinated efforts towards sustainable biodiversity and landscape management in Nagaland, the release added. Earlier, on November 3, Kovi Meyase, Commissioner & Secretary, Tourism and Land Resources Departments, and Team Leader, NEPED, called upon the people to commit themselves to charting a future where every village, every household and every citizens become a stakeholders in protecting “our shared environment.”“Together, we can ensure that our state become a beacon of community- driven conservation- where tradition, science and governance converge to create a sustainable legacy for generations to come,” Meyase said.Meanwhile, Dr. Rokhu Savio Krocha, Deputy Project Director, FBMP, expressed gratitude to all the participants and officers of all ranks, resource persons and the management of the Jubilee Hall, Cathedral campus for successful completion of the workshop.The workshop reaffirmed the shared commitment of stakeholders towards strengthening community-based conservation and advancing a collaborative, inclusive, and sustainable approach to biodiversity and landscape management in Nagaland.
