Chikhu Range Biodiversity Conservation Committee (CRBCC), a landscape level forum was formed by 10 villages of Satoi range.
A press release from the forum stated that, the committee was formed on November 2, at Satoi to represent Satoi Range Landscape in order to address and discuss conservation issues and sustainable development ideas at Satoi Range area.
During the first consultation meeting, representatives agreed that a range level multi-stakeholder forum was necessary to initiate dialogues and collaborative conservation actions.
It was the second consultation meeting to form a landscape level forum at Satoi range. The first consultation meeting was held on September 19 at Satoi town to discuss the needs and necessity to form a committee at landscape level.
During the second consultation meeting after deliberations and discussions, the representatives formed the forum. It is named after the highest mountain “Chikhu” in Satoi range. Each village has nominated two representatives to form a 20 member committee.
The committee will be working towards biodiversity conservation, protection of threatened species, natural resources management and advocacy for the Satoi range. The meeting was organised and facilitated by the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) working on biodiversity conservation in the state.
Satoi Range is located in the western most region of the Zunheboto district of Nagaland. It harbours temperate and subtropical broadleaf forest, one of lush primary forest in the state.
The entire range has been recognised as “important birds area” for it rich bird diversity and the forest host some of the rarest and endangered species which includes the state bird Blyth’s Tragopan, Western Hoolock Gibbon, Chinese Pangolin and Great Hornbill making it a biodiversity rich area.