Dimapur, February 13 (MExN): A documentary movie on the Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) of Nagaland has won the Golden Beaver Award at this year's 6th National Science Film Festival held in Mumbai. ‘Nagaland is changing. But…’ was awarded the Best Film in the films made by institutions category on February 13 during the festival organised by Vigyan Prasar of the Department of Science and Technology.
The film also received the technical excellence award for best sound design. The prize money for both the awards is Rs. 1 lakh and Rs 20,000 respectively.
The film, produced by Nagaland State Forest Department in technical collaboration with TERI, New Delhi, was directed by Gurmeet Sapal, a press release from M. Lokeswara Rao, PCCF & HoFF informed. Sapal received the award today from noted filmmaker MS Sathyu.
Lokeswara Rao PCCF & HoFF in the press release expressed happiness at receiving the award. “The real champions are communities of Nagaland who are protecting and conserving these areas since time immemorial,” he stated. With the screening of film, he said, “the whole world came to know the dedication of communities in conserving these areas which are rich in carbon pool. The communities are preserving to mitigate Climate Change. They should get enough support from government of India and international organisation.”
About the film:
The film documents the Community Conserved Areas in Sendenyu village under Tseminyu and Sukhai village in Zunheboto. The two villages have been conserving the forest on their private land for the past 15 years. No one is allowed to enter the community forest. There is a strict ban on hunting, fishing, logging and collection of minor forest produce like honey and medicinal plants etc. The village court fines anyone who is caught breaking the law in Sendenyu.
The result: Sendenyu Community Biodiversity Reserve is now teeming with wildlife. The animals that were once considered extinct in the area are being sighted again, the release said. The birds that were always weary of human beings because of the rampant hunting can be seen flocking the reserve. Large flowering trees, which were once cut even before they could reach a flowering age, are blooming, it added.
But, there are challenges. This reserve was formed on the land that was donated by the private owners. Like the rest of North East India, agriculture is the main source of income in Nagaland. The felling of trees in the private land for the timber constitutes a major portion of any Naga family’s livelihood. After restraining themselves for 15 long years, some families now want to exploit the timber from their part of land in the biodiversity reserve.
How can the livelihood of these Naga families be ensured? Can schemes like REDD+ and Carbon Credits support them? Can international organizations and the government help Sendenyu save its forest?
The film portrays the beginning of a huge change in the lifestyle of the Naga people. People that were once hunters are now turning into conservationists. Nagaland is changing for sure. But…
