COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION AND ITS CHALLENGES IN NAGALAND, NORTHEAST INDIA

Abstract

Nagaland, which is gifted with rich and unique biodiversity, falls within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity hotspot. Community-based conservation programmes are essential for alleviating the livelihoods of the villagers and protecting the biodiversity in Nagaland. However, stringent rules and regulations are implemented on community conservation areas (CCAs) that restrict any extraction from the designated CCAs. The approach of the CCAs in Nagaland is remotely analogous to a protectionist “fines and fences” model, ignoring the strong traditional practise of the people and their symbiotic relationship with the forest. Thus, these preclusions and gregarious fencing within the CCA has triggered challenges among the villagers in Nagaland. The lack of alternative livelihood avenues in the state has led to livelihood challenges for the villagers who are part of the CCAs. At a glance, the conservation of the migratory bird Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) appears to be a successful conservation status in the state, that earned the title “Nagaland Amur falcon capital of the World” in 2013. However, upon close observation, the project fails to include the villagers who are the key players for the conservation and their livelihood. The project intended to operate with a protectionist approach (also known as fortress conservation), imposing strict prohibition and restriction on the villagers to the roosting site for the protection of the Amur falcon. This has given rise to conflict between the government and the villagers. Thus, the status of the migratory bird of prey Amur falcon and its conservation at the roosting site lies with uncertainty.