Dimapur: A two-day state-level workshop under the Forest and Biodiversity in the Himalayas Management Project (FBMP), Nagaland, highlighted community-led initiatives to protect forests and biodiversity, with representatives from 64 villages sharing their conservation experiences and achievements.
The workshop, held at the Cathedral compound in Kohima on the theme “Community Conservation: Celebrating Success and Charting the Future”, concluded on Wednesday evening.
The participating village representatives presented their experiences of FBMP-supported activities, including equipment distribution, entry point activities, institutional connectivity and conservation measures undertaken at the grassroots level.
Addressing the valedictory session as the special guest, Y Khikheto Sema, principal secretary for forest, environment and climate change, acknowledged the participation of community representatives from various districts and their efforts to promote conservation at the village level.
Sema said such interactions provide an opportunity to understand grassroots realities, identify practical solutions, strengthen coordination among stakeholders and inform future conservation planning and policy development.
Expressing concern over the declining forest cover in Nagaland, he stressed the importance of active community participation in protecting forests and biodiversity for future generations.
He also highlighted the special constitutional safeguards available to Nagaland and urged participants to use these provisions constructively for the overall development of the state.
Addressing representatives of the 64 participating villages, Sema encouraged them to become ambassadors of biodiversity conservation and share the knowledge gained during the workshop through community platforms.
He urged the participants to translate the discussions and experiences shared at the workshop into conservation initiatives at the village level.