Kohima: A day-long workshop on Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation was held on Saturday at the State Botanical Garden in Kohima, drawing attention to the urgent ecological and environmental challenges facing Nagaland.
The event was organised by the Kohima Press Club (KPC) in collaboration with the Silviculture Division Kohima, as part of the KPC’s year-long 25th-anniversary celebrations.
The workshop featured prominent conservationists and community leaders, including Bano Haralu, Project Lead, Wildlife Conservation Society–India, and Gwasinlo Thong, member of the Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLC) Advisory Board (WCS–International) and Chairman of the Sendenyu Community Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation Board.
In her opening remarks, KPC President Alice Yhoshü stated that the workshop was envisioned to equip members with greater knowledge of biodiversity and conservation issues, while also helping media professionals report more effectively on related topics. She expressed hope that the presentations would also introduce participants to the various threats facing wildlife and biodiversity in the state.
Dr. Prabhat Kumar, IFS, State Silviculturist, described the State Botanical Garden as a unique ecological zone with trails, a succulent room, and an orchidarium. He emphasised the need for conservation efforts, including awareness-building, plantations, and supporting forest-dependent communities.
Reflecting on changing trends, he noted that hunting, once driven by food needs, has now become a recreational or commercial activity, emerging as a serious concern. He stressed that conservation is necessary simply because it is the right thing to do.
He noted that collective efforts can lead to significant impact, highlighting the crucial role of individuals in the conservation journey. Kumar added that such efforts also contribute to shifting public mindsets, especially in addressing demand-driven issues like the consumption of wild meat.
He further emphasized the need for people to understand the essence of meaningful conservation, citing an example that it should not be limited to just planting trees, but should involve nurturing ecosystems, ensuring their survival, and promoting long-term ecological balance.
He called for conservation not just for the present, but for future generations, citing the vital ecosystem services provided by forests, such as nutrient cycling, clean air, and emotional well-being. He also highlighted the critical role media plays in bridging the gap between conservation efforts and public participation.
Speaking on “Community Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation,” Gwasinlo Thong reflected on his personal experiences growing up with close ties to nature. He said Indigenous communities once lived in harmony with forests, using traditional knowledge to guide sustainable livelihoods.
He explained that the ancestors had looked to the “songs” of nature to guide their farming and livelihood practices, which allowed them to maintain an intuitive ecological balance. However, he noted that this balance began to deteriorate with the arrival of colonial rule, which disrupted traditional systems and values.
Thong stated that the most immediate challenges today are ecological and environmental issues, warning that if action is not taken now, it may soon be too late.
Thong defended Article 371A as a vital constitutional safeguard for preserving Nagaland’s traditional way of life. He also highlighted Sendenyu’s community-led conservation efforts over the past 25 years.
Thong said that several conservation and ecological protection measures had been implemented within Sendenyu jurisdiction which covers four villages at present. He shared that there is a total ban on hunting and the use of chemicals for fishing in the area. Trapping birds with gum and the use of airguns had also been strictly prohibited.
Thong further mentioned that the use of chemical weedicides and jungle burning had been banned. He highlighted that approximately 20 square kilometers of village community land had been demarcated as a Biological Diversity Reserve to enable in situ conservation of the area’s natural flora and fauna.
Thong outlined the implementation strategies that had been adopted to support conservation efforts. He said that wide publicity and awareness campaigns were carried out, including youth rallies, wildlife film screenings for children, posters and banners, and promoting Christian stewardship in conservation through church-based organisations.
He mentioned that villagers were encouraged to give up jhum cultivation in favor of eco-friendly wet terrace farming. He proudly noted that today, 90% of the villagers had adopted wet terrace cultivation.
Further, Thong urged the government to conduct periodic wildlife census studies to evaluate conservation outcomes.
Bano Haralu, addressing the topic “Conservation Challenges in Nagaland,” stressed the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge with modern science. She noted that stories and oral traditions related to wildlife are being lost, weakening the connection between people and nature.
Haralu stated that between 2002 and 2024, Nagaland lost approximately 35.4 kha (or 354 square kilometers) of humid primary forest, accounting for 14% of the state’s total tree cover loss during that period. She added that the overall area of humid primary forest in Nagaland had decreased by 8.6% over the same timeframe.
She also noted that from 2001 to 2024, Nagaland lost approximately 268 kha (2,680 square kilometers) of tree cover, which represents a 20% reduction from the state’s tree cover in the year 2000. She added that this loss was equivalent to 161 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions. However, she clarified that these figures did not account for any gains in tree cover during the same period.
The veteran journalist outlined key conservation challenges in Nagaland, including forest fragmentation due to lack of connectivity between Community Conserved Areas, unregulated hunting with advanced firearms, low conservation awareness, especially among youth, and limited alternative livelihoods, with average agricultural income around Rs 16,000 per month.
Some threats she highlighted are soil erosion, monocropping practices, such as oil palm, as detrimental to biodiversity, in addition to increasing labour dependency from outside the state.
She identified Nagaland’s honey production as a promising sustainable livelihood for forest-fringe communities and emphasised the need to explore income alternatives beyond traditional agriculture.
Haralu voiced concern over Nagaland’s failure to access national and international conservation funds effectively. Pointing the state budget allocation, she pointed out that there is an overemphasis on infrastructure over sustainability in the state’s development plans.
She further pointed out threats such as soil erosion, which in Nagaland is reportedly three times higher than the national average, and quarrying, which is affecting butterfly populations—bio-indicators of ecological health.
Calling for the creation of grassroots collectives of farmers and youth, Haralu said that Nagaland’s strength lies in its communities.
The Silviculture Division, Kohima, also donated 100 tree saplings to members of the Kohima Press Club.
Also Read | Nagaland: One man, 11 heists; Kohima cops crack Rs 1.5 cr burglary spree