All activities threatening Ntangki National Park – from logging to hunting and fishing – will now be dealt with under customary law, following a unanimous resolution by 37 villages in Ahthibung sub-division.
According to a press release issued on Sunday, a general consultative meeting of the 37 villages was held at Ahthibung town hall, where the participants agreed to actively support the State Forest Department in safeguarding the National Park.
The gathering brought together gaonburas, chairmen, and village representatives, including youth and women, alongside members of Kuki Inpi, Nagaland Zeliang People’s Organisation (NZPO), and Zeliang-Kuki Public Organisation (ZKPO).
According to the statment, participants resolved to strictly enforce customary law on offenders, implementing a complete ban on timber logging, hunting, and fishing within the park. They also decided to prohibit the use of poison, inverters, and batteries in rivers under Ahthibung sub-division and emphasized the enforcement of village council rulings on wildlife hunting.
The meeting, convened by ZKPO, was attended by the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) of Ahthibung, who encouraged village councils and community groups to exercise their rights under Article 371(A) and to prioritize the protection of land and natural resources.
NZPO President Zandi Domta called for an end to the custom of offering bush meat to VIPs and restricting access to hunting areas in Peren district forests. He stressed the importance of community stewardship, urging villagers to manage and protect their lands as true owners.
Bano Haralu, Project Lead of the Nagaland Rights and Communities Team at WCS–India, highlighted the connection between biodiversity and indigenous identity, noting that “the loss of wildlife and natural resources undermines cultural traditions, habits, and community identity.”
WCS–India has been working with local communities around Ntangki National Park since September 2023 under the IUCN/ITHCP Phase-II project, “Partnering with Communities to strengthen conservation of critical tiger habitat areas in northeast India.”
Kuki Inpi General Secretary Lulun Khulhou reaffirmed the need to protect the National Park, while participants exchanged ideas to strengthen community-led conservation efforts and expressed their support for collaboration with the Forest Department.
The 37 villages represented at the meeting included: Phanjang, Saijang, Bonkollong, Songngou, Besumpuipuiloa, Lilen, New Chalkot, New Soget, Bunglen, New Besumpui, L Lilen, Inbung, Old Soget, New Ngaulong, Besumpuiram, ‘B’-Lilen, Chalkot, Sailhem, New Nkio, Old Besumpui, Phaijo, Ahthibung, Sinjol, Nkio B, Nkio Lodi, Vongkithem, Sangluh, Khelma, Ikiesingram, Besumpui Zangdi, Chamcha New, Pellhang, Gopibung, Nsenlo, and Beisumlwa.
