Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) North Eastern Region Project (NERP), a project currently being implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaftfür Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in the states of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Sikkim and under the aegis of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region organized a two-day exposure visit to Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary for a group of fourteen village elders from five villages of Malai Sohmat Himaship in West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya from November 6 to 7.
A press release from CCA-NER technical expert, Aja Zinyü stated that this initiative was part of an effort of the five villages to initiate a conservation movement aimed at conserving the Hillock Gibbon’s natural habitat found within their village boundaries.
The group was welcomed in the presence of Niketu Iralu, a social worker from Khonoma village; Khriekhoto Mor, chairman of Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary Trust (KNCTS); Neisamezo Pier, chairman of the Khonoma Village Council; Tsilie Sakhrie, advisor, Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary; and members of the Khonoma Village Council; Supong Aier, chief conservator of Forest, Nagaland; and Kenneth M. Pala, senior advisor and regional coordinator, GIZ.
Neisamezo welcomed the group, and Tsilie Sakhrie spoke on the various challenges faced by KNCTST. Khriekhoto informed the gathering that in the year 1998, Khonoma Village Council declared its intention to notify around 2000 ha (20 sq km) as the Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS). He also mentioned that some years ago the Government of India recognised the potential of the village to organise itself, and granted it a substantial Green Village Fund through the Tourism department of the state government.
Niketu spoke on the various initiatives undertaken many years prior to the formal declaration of Khonoma community managed sanctuary. Niketu also said that “we needed to first cooperate to bring healing and forgiveness of one another for the killings that had taken place during the height of the Naga struggle and destroyed the inter-clan relationships that had sustained the village for generations”. He added that after the establishment of the Wild Life Conservation Project, the resolution to ban timber felling for sale to the saw mills in Dimapur, etc, became possible. A proposal to expose the present community of Khonoma to the concept of sacred groves of Meghalaya and learning the art of constructing living root bridges was strongly mooted by Niketu.
Supong offered his appreciation to the Trust and suggested that it encourage nature education for schools, and documentation of the flora and fauna.
Pala stressed upon the need to take on board all sections of the community in conservation initiatives and laid emphasis on the urgency to create a better understanding at the community level.