Reported by Bhadra Gogoi
Dimapur: Chairman of the Nagaland State Biodiversity Board (NSBB), Y. Kikheto Sema, on Friday said Nagaland witnessed a forest cover loss of about 794.88 sq km between 2013 and 2023, citing the India State of Forest Report (ISFR).
Speaking at the International Day for Biological Diversity 2026 observation at St. Xavier College, Jalukie, in Peren district, Sema, who is also the Principal Secretary of the Nagaland Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, highlighted the rich biodiversity of Nagaland.
He underscored the importance of partnership between the government and communities in biodiversity conservation, noting that more than 95% of land and forests in Nagaland belong to communities.
He said conservation efforts require the active participation and support of local communities, educational institutions, churches, and civil society organisations, along with the forest department and biodiversity boards.
Referring to Article 371A, which is applicable in Nagaland and grants people control over land and natural resources through customary ownership systems, he appealed to people not to destroy the state’s rich biodiversity but to protect and conserve it for future generations.
Calling for a balance between development and conservation, Sema envisioned Nagaland as a model for community-led biodiversity conservation with strong potential for eco-tourism, biodiversity conservation, culture, and community socio-economic development.
He said the state lies within the ecologically significant Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and is endowed with rich forests, wildlife, rivers, medicinal plants, orchids, and traditional agro-biodiversity.
However, he expressed concern over growing threats posed by deforestation, pollution, forest fires, soil erosion, water scarcity, and the unsustainable extraction of natural resources.
He stressed that global environmental protection begins with local action.
“Small initiatives such as tree plantation, village-level conservation, community clean-up drives, sustainable lifestyles, and responsible use of natural resources contribute significantly towards achieving global biodiversity goals,” Sema said.
He appealed to students and youth to become “ambassadors of nature” through everyday conservation practices such as avoiding plastic waste, planting and protecting trees, conserving water, protecting wildlife, and participating in the documentation and conservation of local biological resources through People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs).
On environmental education, he stressed the importance of incorporating biodiversity and conservation awareness into school curricula, Sunday schools, eco-clubs, nature clubs, biodiversity walks, and community awareness campaigns.