Germany will provide a grant of up to € 6.5 million (approximately over Rs 50 crore) for the period from 2019 to 2026 to safeguard biodiversity conservation in select community conserved areas (CCAs) and also improve the living conditions and income of the local population in peripheral areas of protective forests in Nagaland.
The project covers 12 CCAs, around 70 villages and 6 districts in Nagaland – Wokha, Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Kohima, Peren and Phek, said a statement issued by Nagaland CMO.
This project was launched by Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, vide Election Commission of India approval letter NO 437/NL/2019 (MCC) – NES – 1 dated 20th April, 2019, on Tuesday during the visit of a German delegation headed by the Chargé d’affaires Dr Jasper Wieck to the state.
Dr Wieck met Nagaland governor PB Acharya, chief minister Rio and chief secretary Temjen Toy for an exchange of views about the situation and prospects in Nagaland as one of the “Seven Sisters” during the two-day visit of the German delegation.
Special attention was paid to the official launch of the forestry and biodiversity management project between India and Germany in the Himalayan Region component Nagaland.
KfW Development Bank is responsible for implementation of the project. Indian project partners are the Nagaland State Biodiversity Board (NSBB) and the Nagaland forest department as well as the Nagaland Environment Protection and Economic Development Agency (NEPED).
The German delegation included amongst others the German consul general in Calcutta, Michael Feiner, as well as representatives of KfW Development Bank and the German Organisation for International Cooperation (GIZ).
The delegation was on a two-day visit to the state from April 29.
Germany is a global partner of the Indian Government, particularly with regard to the implementation of the agreed climate targets of Paris and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
German Development Cooperation draws on experience from more than 60 years of successful cooperation and fits into the national and international support for the achievement of Indian climate contributions.
India is the largest recipient of public development funding from Germany.
Germany sees India as indispensable for achieving international development and environmental goals.
In addition to the development of renewable energy, support for the implementation of the National Indian Action Plan on Climate Change is at the core of bilateral cooperation in the Northeast region.
As part of the Indo-German environmental programme, German experts advised those responsible in the Northeast region to maintain and improve the living conditions of the population despite climate change, prevent rural exodus and create prospects for indigenous population groups.
The northeastern region and the Himalayas are particularly affected by climate change, the statement added.