All photos by Akheka Awomi
“When I look back at how our village used to be, I see such a big difference,” says Rose Jingru, a resident of the picturesque Tsutoho village, nestled in the Chingku mountain range in Nagaland. She is recalling how hunting used to be rampant just a few years back, and the forest was slowly becoming quiet. “We hardly saw the animals or the birds that once filled our land. But now, with the conservation work in Tsutoho, things are changing.”
The transformation was there for all to see on September 27 when a Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), discovered by some people during road maintenance work, was rescued and handed over to the village council, which released it unharmed into its natural habitat the next day.
In the past, such encounters would have resulted in a tragic outcome for the animal. But this was the second time the community in Tsutoho rescued the critically endangered, nocturnal mammal.
A couple of years ago, a group of local youngsters had discovered the animal that had wandered into their habitation area. At that time too, the Village Development Board (VDB) and Tsutoho Village Students Union had released it unharmed into its natural habitat.
For this village community, which was once known for its hunting practices in Nagaland’s Zunheboto district, responses like this showcase a significant move towards embracing acts of conservation.
“Seeing the Blyth’s tragopan, a rare and beautiful bird, roam freely within the Community Conserved Area (CCA) has been one of my most memorable experiences,” says Kato Awomi, the 55-year-old gaon burah (village headman). “Watching these birds move without fear in their natural habitat is a moving and powerful feeling. It not only emphasises the safety and tranquillity of this space but also shows that our conservation efforts are making a difference,” he adds.
This transformation is the result of years of dedication, a shared community vision, and collective action to preserve and nurture nature.
Tsutoho village is part of the much larger Satoi Range, known for its evergreen forests, abundant with various types of trees, medicinal plants, and edible vegetables and fruits. People here rely on these forests for various purposes, ranging from timber to medicine.
While non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are essential for the community’s subsistence, some are also used commercially. Additionally, these forests provide habitats for many endemic and endangered wildlife species, including the Blyth’s tragopan, clouded leopard, civets, Chinese pangolin, Hoolock gibbon, and barking deer. The community engages in livestock rearing, as well as both jhum (slash-and-burn) and terrace cultivation.
For Tsutoho’s Sumi (Sema) tribe, hunting has traditionally been a vital source of sustenance and an essential aspect of their culture. Among the wild animals that have been hunted are the currently endangered species like the Chinese pangolin, western hoolock gibbon, Blyth’s tragopan, and great Indian hornbill.
However, unchecked and uncontrolled hunting and forest logging over the years have led to a significant decline in wildlife populations and forest cover in the region.
Over the years, as their traditional practices became unsustainable, the community’s understanding of biodiversity conservation evolved, leading them to recognise that rampant wildlife hunting threatened the survival of the area’s rarest species.
As a result, in recent years, the Tsutoho community has adopted measures to sustain the ecological health of their environment.
“Our forefathers used the calls of birds like the great barbet to tell time — its afternoon song signalled lunchtime, and its evening call reminded them to head home. Today, its call is rare. Observing the decline in animals and birds around our village, our forefathers, despite not being formally taught about conservation, instinctively felt the need to protect wildlife” says Allo K. Awomi, 24, CCA chairman and member of the local youth organisation. “Their actions inspired our resolve to conserve our forests and wildlife,” he adds.
The change began about 20 years ago, when the community designated two forest areas as CCA due to their highly sensitive ecosystems.
These areas, located at an altitude of around 2,500 metres, cover 265 hectares, where the village council has prohibited hunting. While the extraction of NTFP is permitted for personal use, the village council has imposed restrictions on any commercial activities that exploit natural resources and the surrounding forests, particularly timber extraction.
The Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) has worked closely with an inclusive CCA management committee and the village council to strengthen community conservation efforts. In 2019, FES supported these village-level institutions’ decision to implement additional protection measures for endangered or vulnerable species.
Consequently, the committee, alongside the village council, passed a resolution that prohibits the hunting of the Blyth’s trogopan, Chinese pangolin, great Indian hornbill, hoolock gibbon, and the clouded leopard, within the village jurisdiction, regardless of the season.
Through a series of consultative meetings, the village council addressed common concerns before the resolution’s passage. By restricting the hunting of non-endangered species to specific non-reserve areas during approved seasons, the community acknowledges that an outright ban on hunting would be counterproductive in overcoming a deeply ingrained practice.
Although breaking this habit has been a gradual process, the Tsutoho community has made significant progress in conservation over the last few years. Additionally, Mt. Chingkhu Range Progressive Society, led by Tsutoho’s youth, has been actively engaged in conservation efforts.
While the training and interactive sessions with the FES team have strengthened their sense of responsibility, the youth recognise that their identity is intrinsically connected to their biodiversity.
“I still remember the days when our elders sat us down and told us why certain birds and animals should never disappear from our land. Today I see our youth carrying that same message forward. We have partially banned hunting when others didn’t, we have spoken up for nature when many stayed silent, and we have shown that a village can protect what it loves if it stands together,” said Simon Yepthomi, general secretary, Mt. Chingkhu Progressive Society of Tsutoho.
Together with the CCA management committee and the village council, the Tsutoho youth also actively participated in developing the Tsutoho CCA management plan. This process, facilitated by FES, has empowered the Tsutoho community to create long-term strategies for improving the governance and management of their CCA.
The CCA management plan includes activities focussed on improving forest quality, increasing wildlife population, and enhancing community cooperation and participation towards strengthening conservation. It also seeks to establish conservation-based livelihood opportunities and promote responsible tourism practices to help regenerate their fragile environments.
The measures adopted by the community have noticeably decreased hunting and resulted in a selective approach to tree felling. In a community that deeply values its land, forests, and culture, the 600-odd residents of Tsutoho are reassessing and redirecting their actions to protect what remains of their once-rich biodiversity.
“What makes me happiest is how our own people are standing together for this cause,” says Jingru, who is also a member of the CCA management committee. “I can hear the birds singing in the mornings, and sometimes I even see animals that I thought were gone for good. The forest feels alive again.”
(With inputs from Yaranajit Deka, Senior Programme Manager, FES; Marina, Consultant, FES; and Akheka Awomi, Community Resource Person)
Nivedita Menon has over 13 years of experience as a social development practitioner with a focus on education, health, and ecological restoration. This story is supported by the Promise of Commons initiative, which aims to strengthen the community-led governance of Commons for improved social, ecological and economic outcomes.