Nagaland convened its first-ever Forest Officers’ Conference since 1963 on 19 March 2026 at Rhododendron Hall, Police Complex, Chumoukedima, bringing together senior forest officials to discuss forest management, wildlife conservation, and environmental challenges.
Key issues highlighted included the rising human–elephant conflict in districts such as Longleng and Bhandari, illegal hunting, indiscriminate tree felling, forest burning practices, and underutilization of central funds.
Speaking at the conference, CL John, Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, called for stronger community engagement and preventive strategies to mitigate wildlife conflicts. He emphasized the importance of stricter enforcement against hunting and proposed large-scale plantation drives to restore ecological balance.
The conference also noted that Nagaland has not accessed any funds from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), despite over Rs 58,000 crore being released nationwide. Officials warned that failure to utilize these funds may have resulted in missed opportunities worth thousands of crores.
Addressing administrative and operational gaps, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Vedpal Singh and Principal Secretary Y Kikheto Sema stressed the need for modern tools like GIS for data-driven forest management, zonal postings to cover remote areas, and strengthened revenue and royalty systems. Community participation through joint forest management was flagged as critical, with emphasis on sustainable livelihoods to prevent forest degradation.
The conference also explored the untapped potential of agarwood cultivation, calling for clear policies and collaboration with research institutes to ensure scientific, sustainable income generation for farmers.
Officials highlighted the importance of capacity building, including crisis management, physical endurance, and communication skills, while encouraging eco-tourism initiatives to showcase Nagaland’s biodiversity.
The day-long conference aimed to strengthen coordination within the Forest Department, address long-standing challenges, and promote sustainable forest governance in the State.