Failure to avail CAMPA funds a huge loss: CL John

The first-ever Nagaland Forest Officers’ Conference was held on Thursday at Rhododendron Hall, Police Complex, Chümoukedima, marking a historic milestone for the state’s Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department. Despite being one amongst the oldest departments in the state, it had never convened such platform for collective deliberation in the past.
Addressing the gathering as special guest, Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, CL John, described the conference as a crucial coordination platform and urged officers to adopt a result-oriented approach by formulating concrete resolutions for the development of the department and improved cooperation with the public.
He also advocated making the conference an annual event.
Highlighting policy and economic concerns, John termed Nagaland’s failure to avail Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds as a huge loss and called for corrective steps.
He further urged the department to revisit revenue collection mechanisms. On a lighter vein, he encouraged stricter monitoring of forest produce movement suggesting personnel maintain both moral and constitutional accountability.
The minister further dwelt extensively on the rising human-elephant conflict, noting that increasing human encroachment into wildlife habitats has forced animals into human settlements.
He said the department often finds itself in a difficult position, as legal provisions do not permit killing of elephants despite growing attacks.
Emphasising caution as the most practical immediate solution, he called on the department to undertake research and devise sustainable mitigation strategies.
The minister also expressed concern over rampant hunting and fishing practices, terming them “disturbing trends” that have contributed to the loss of several species in the state and ecological imbalance leading to various environmental and health issues. He thereby stressed the need for stricter measures, including discussions on banning hunting, alongside public awareness on forest conservation and regulated tree felling.
Meanwhile, delivering the keynote address, principal director, Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Y. Kikheto Sema highlighted the significance of unity and collective responsibility. Stating that the conference was long overdue, he noted that absence of such a platform in the past raised questions about how the department functioned without regular exchange of ideas and coordination.
Emphasising shift from individualism to collective action, he remarked, “I” brings illness, but “We” brings wellness, and called upon officers to work together for the welfare of the people.
Sema further outlined key challenges unique to Nagaland, particularly its landholding system, where the department controls less than 5% of forest land. Despite this limitation, he asserted that officers must not shy away from their responsibilities.
He further proposed a comprehensive framework for strengthening the department, focusing on forest management, ecological conservation, and community engagement. He dwelt on the importance of scientific forestry practices such as silviculture, survey and mapping using modern tools such as GIS, and afforestation initiatives, and urged officers to actively engage with communities and promote awareness.
He also emphasised the need for sustainable management, of both forest and soil, warning that neglect of natural resources could reduce long-term productivity.
On climate change, Sema cautioned that the crisis was no longer distant but already impacting the state.
Citing data from the Indian State of Forest Report, he noted that Nagaland recorded a loss of around 800 sq km of forest cover over a decade, the highest in the country. Here, he called for urgent strategies including afforestation and reforestation, and stressed the need to integrate climate awareness into community life, churches, and educational institutions.
He also underscored the importance of community participation, stating that while land ownership lies with individuals, environmental responsibility is collective.
Sema further encouraged promotion of eco-tourism and development of eco-parks, while also stressing the need for strong core skills among forest officers, including physical endurance, crisis management, and effective communication.
On policy priorities, he expressed concern over Nagaland being the only state in the country that has not availed CAMPA funds, resulting in an estimated loss of thousands of crores. He attributed this partly to misinterpretation of Article 371 (A) and inadequate assessment during development projects.
Describing the conference as historic, he expressed hope that it would lead to meaningful deliberations and actionable outcomes for the sustainable management of Nagaland’s forest resources.
He also indicated that key administrative decisions would be discussed during the conference, including structured posting of officers across different zones and making service in remote areas mandatory for career advancement.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by Principal Chief Conservator of Forest & Head of Forest Force, Vedpal Singh, who also delivered the welcome address.
After the inaugural session, presentations on Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Nagaland Forest Management Project, Forest & Biodiversity Management in the Himalayas (Nagaland) Project and Nagaland Pollution Control Board were held.
An open house discussion on topics such as wildlife (human-elephant conflict, wildlife crimes), forest produce (transit, revenue), statutory clearances in developmental activities, Agar policy, etc, were also discussed.