A German delegation headed by the Chargé d’affaires Dr. Jasper Wieck visited Nagaland from April 29-30, 2019 and met with chief minister Neiphiu Rio and chief secretary Temjen Toy for an exchange about the situation and prospects in Nagaland as one of the so-called “Seven Sisters”.
The delegation included amongst others the German Consul General in Calcutta, Michael Feiner, as well as representatives of KfW Development Bank and the German Organisation for International Cooperation (GIZ).
According to an official bulletin, the CMO, in a press release, stated that during their visit the forestry and biodiversity management project between India and Germany in the Himalayan Region component Nagaland was officially launched on April 30, 2019 by the chief minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, vide Election Commission of India approval letter NO 437/NL/2019 (MCC) – NES – 1 dated April 20, 2019.
Germany would provide a grant of up to €6.5 million (apporx over Rs. 50 crore) for the period from 2019 to 2026 to safeguard biodiversity conservation in selected Community Conserved Areas (CCAs), while at the same time improving the living conditions and income of the local population in peripheral areas of protective forests.
The project covers 12 CCAs, around 70 villages and six districts in Nagaland (including Wokha, Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Kohima, Peren and Phek). German development cooperation draws on experience from more than 60 years of successful cooperation and fits into the national and international support for the achievement of Indian climate contributions.
KfW development bank is responsible for its implementation. Indian project partners are the Nagaland State Biodiversity Board (NSBB) and the Nagaland Forest Department as well as the Nagaland Environment Protection and Economic Development Agency (NEPED).
As part of the Indo-German environmental programme, German experts advised those responsible in the Northeast region to maintain and improve the living conditions of the population despite climate change, to prevent rural exodus and to create prospects for indigenous population groups. The northeastern region and the Himalayas are particularly affected by climate change.