Forest decline, climate impact discussed at FBMP review workshop
Amid concerns over declining forest cover and growing climate impact, Nagaland on Thursday called for focused and intensive conservation efforts across six districts, stressing that environmental protection must become a people’s movement linked directly to livelihood security.
Addressing the Annual Review-cum-Planning Workshop of the Forest and Biodiversity Management in the Himalaya Project (FBMP) at the Forest Office Complex, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS, Principal Secretary, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said forest conservation can no longer remain a departmental exercise.
“Conservation must become a people’s movement,” he said, urging schools, churches and community institutions to take active responsibility in protecting biodiversity for future generations.
Sema expressed concern over the decline in forest cover in recent years and warned that climate change is already affecting the state through erratic rainfall, drying water sources and changing climatic patterns. He clarified that Article 371A should not be misconstrued as a barrier to environmental responsibility, stating that climate change does not recognise constitutional or administrative boundaries.
With over 70 percent of Nagaland’s population residing in rural areas and largely dependent on land-based activities, he stressed that conservation is directly linked to livelihood security. Referring to shifting cultivation, he said traditional practices are respected but sustainable adaptations are necessary to reduce pressure on forest resources.
Vedpal Singh, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, called for intensive interventions in selected locations to create demonstrative and replicable models rather than spreading resources thinly.
He said review mechanisms must result in measurable and implementable outcomes and highlighted the need to strengthen visible components such as human-wildlife conflict mitigation to enhance public engagement.
The FBMP, co-financed by the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW, has been under implementation since 2020–21 and currently covers Kohima, Mokokchung, Peren, Tuensang, Wokha and Shamator districts. The project spans seven landscapes, 13 Community Conserved Areas and 64 villages.
According to project officials, 64 village micro plans and 75 Entry Point Activities have been undertaken. Three Landscape Management Plans and four CCA-cum-Landscape Management Plans have been prepared, while nine CCA Management Plans have been approved. A total of 35 People’s Biodiversity Registers have also been completed.
In biodiversity-based livelihood interventions, 185 activities have been implemented, benefitting over 9,000 people directly and around 12,000 indirectly. Community contribution towards these initiatives stands at Rs 2.20 crore. Interventions include apiculture, sericulture, horticulture, animal husbandry, food processing, plantation crops, nurseries and petty businesses. Bio-resources such as berry, nutgall, Paris polyphylla, Zanthoxylum, roselle and gooseberry have been identified for value addition, and a tie-up with Dabur India was finalised in December 2023.
Thirteen action plans have been developed for conservation of key species including Asiatic Black Bear, Clouded Leopard, Asiatic Elephant, Sambar and Hornbill. A Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation Plan prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India focuses on Wokha and Mokokchung districts, and a dedicated Human-Elephant Conflict Control Room has been established in Wokha.
Project authorities said the next 22 months will be a critical consolidation period, with around 50 percent of funds yet to be utilised. The focus for 2026 will be on conservation measures, followed by operationalisation of a Conservation Fund in 2027.
