Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio and others during the official launching of the Enhancing Landscape and Ecosystem Management (ELEMENT) Nagaland Project at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Kohima on September 17. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, September 17 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday officially launched the Enhancing Landscape and Ecosystem Management (ELEMENT) Nagaland Project at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, , Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima.
Funded by the World Bank–International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the five-year project will be implemented in 225 villages across 16 districts by the Society for Climate Resilient Agriculture in Nagaland (SoCRAN) under the Agriculture Production Commissioner Cell.
Launching the initiative, CM Rio described the project as “a significant milestone” in efforts to restore, conserve, and sustainably manage Nagaland’s landscape and forest wealth.
He noted that while the State, which covers 2.1% of India’s geographical area, plays a vital role in sustaining livelihoods and preserving cultural and ecological services, it faces growing threats from climate change, natural resource depletion, and socio-economic pressures.
Rio underlined the need to ensure meaningful participation of women and marginalised groups, and called for collaboration among state agencies, research institutions, NGOs, and local communities.
“This holistic approach is designed to address both ecological and livelihood challenges, creating a model of inclusive and sustainable development,” he stated.
World Bank Lead Environment Specialist, Dinesh Aryal, stressed the cultural, economic, and environmental importance of Nagaland’s forests, with threats from climate and anthropogenic factors in context.
He highlighted the need for a dedicated project director and timely budget planning to ensure smooth implementation.
Project Director Kumar Ramnikant said the initiative comes at a critical time when Nagaland faces challenges such as declining forest cover, soil erosion, pressure on water resources, and climate change. Communities are not only beneficiaries, but also key partners in this process, he maintained, adding that the project aims to combine ecological restoration with livelihood enhancement.
Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen also emphasised timely implementation and active community involvement to ensure the project’s success, the State DIPR reported.
Earlier, the Chief Minister also unveiled the ELEMENT Project logo in the presence of Advisor, Agriculture, Mhathung Yanthan, senior government officials, and representatives from various departments .
The ELEMENT project focuses on four components: strengthening capacities for integrated landscape management, restoring degraded landscapes and improving ecosystem services, enhancing landscape-based value chains for high-value forest and farm products, and establishing a robust framework for project management, monitoring and evaluation.
