DIMAPUR: A one day workshop on Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) was held at Kükhegwo Village Council Hall, Meluri, focusing on strengthening community stewardship for sustainable governance, protection and conservation of CCAs.
The workshop was organised by Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP), Divisional Management Unit (DMU) Phek, in collaboration with the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) and the Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) of Kükhegwo and Akhegwo villages.
A session on “Understanding Community Conserved Areas” was facilitated by Chenibemo Odyuo, Senior Project Manager, FES and FNGO Team Leader, NFMP Phek. He highlighted the significance of CCAs for biodiversity conservation and community wellbeing, stressing the importance of inclusive participation of elders, women and youth in conservation and decision making.
He also encouraged communities to build upon their existing knowledge and institutions for effective stewardship.
Another session on the genesis and evolution of CCAs in Nagaland was led by Keneivito Christopher Sophi, joint secretary of the Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum (NCCAF) and former executive secretary of Khonoma CCA, who shared experiences and lessons from early community conservation initiatives.
Community members from Kükhegwo and Akhegwo, including elders, women, youth and leaders, engaged in group discussions on their CCA journeys, governance systems, rules and regulations, and observed changes since establishment. They also examined challenges and opportunities related to forests, biodiversity, water, climate and institutions, and developed a five year vision with priority actions for conservation.
The programme concluded with presentations from the two village groups and a way forward session led by Imlikumba, senior project manager, FES. The workshop emphasised listening to communities and documenting their experiences, recognising that effective conservation is strengthened when local communities are central to decisions concerning landscapes they depend upon.
The consultation is expected to provide a foundation for strengthening community stewardship, institutional coordination and locally owned action planning for CCAs in the Kükhegwo Akhegwo landscape.
