37 villages resolve to protect Ntangki Nat Park

In a significant conservation initiative, representatives from 37 villages under Athibung sub-division in Peren district unanimously adopted a resolution to protect the Ntangki National Park and its surrounding ecosystem during a General Consultative Meeting held at Athibung Town Hall on October 17, 2025.
The meeting, convened under the theme “Community Consultation on Conservation around Ntangki National Park,” was organised by Zeliang-Kuki Public Organisation (ZKPO) and attended by GBs, chairmen, youth and women representatives, and members of civil society organisations including the Kuki Inpi and Nagaland Zeliang People’s Organisation (NZPO).
The house resolved to fully support the Forest department in the protection and conservation of Ntangki National Park and agreed to strictly enforce customary laws against violators of the resolution. It further decided to impose a total ban on timber logging, fishing, and hunting within the National Park. The use of poison, inverters, and batteries in rivers under Athibung sub-division was also prohibited. Each Village Council was empowered to enforce these decisions within its jurisdiction.
Speaking at the meeting, the SDO (Civil) of Athibung sub-division urged village councils and organisations to exercise their rights under Article 371(A) to protect both the land and the people. “It is the right time to focus on conservation; later may be too late,” he cautioned.
Nagaland Zeliang People’s Organisation (NZPO) president, Zandi Domta, urged villages to end the practice of presenting bush meat to VIPs and to stop hunting parties from entering forests in Peren district. He called for stronger ownership over village lands, saying they must be nurtured “as a real owner would his own property.”
Bano Haralu, Project Lead of the Nagaland Rights and Communities Team at Wildlife Conservation Society–India (WCS–India), underlined the deep link between biodiversity and indigenous identity. “The disappearance of species leads to a loss of identity, as our culture, traditions, and habits are intrinsically tied to the landscape,” she said. She informed that WCS–India, through the IUCN/ITHCP Phase-II project since September 2023, has been working with fringe communities around Ntangki to strengthen conservation of critical tiger habitats in Northeast India.
Kuki Inpi general secretary, Lulun Khulhou, also reiterated the collective responsibility to protect Ntangki National Park, while participants expressed ideas to strengthen community initiatives and partner with the Forest department. ZKPO reaffirmed that it will engage further with the department to develop a “partnership in conservation.”
The 37 villages represented at the meeting included Phanjang, Saijang, Bonkollong, Songngou, Besumpuipuiloa, Lilen, New Chalkot, New Soget, Bunglen, New Besumpui, L. Lilen, Inbung, Old Soget, New Ngaulong, Besumpuiram, ‘B’-Lilen, Chalkot, Sailhem, New Nkio, Old Besumpui, Phaijo, Athibung, Sinjol, Nkio B, Nkio Lodi, Vongkithem, Sangluh, Khelma, Ikiesingram, Besumpui Zangdi, Chamcha New, Pellhang, Gopibung, Nsenlo, and Beisumlwa.