Coal mining in a village under Mokokchung district. (Morung File Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 31
The Nagaland Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Vision 2030 in its Goal-12 on “Sustainable production and consumption” aim to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, Goal-13 on “Climate Change” aim to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact, Goal-14 on “Life below water” aim to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development and Goal-15 on “Life on land” aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managed forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.”
The vision is to sustainably manage the state’s rich biodiversity resources and protect its environment for providing better livelihoods and ecosystem services.
2030 targets include; alleviate economic status of rural population and decrease dependence on subsistence agriculture, provide ecosystem service through forest, restore degraded forests and overexploited underwater ecosystems and increase efficient usage of the state’s natural resources to 42.68 percent by 2030, up from 8.3 percent in financial years 2018/2019.
Improve the quality of forest cover
As forests are predominantly private /community owned, the strategies of the department will revolve e around facilitating and motivating the stakeholders.
Existing village level institutions under the VCs and the State Forest Development Agency will be strengthened and used to transfer resources to the communities, linked to maintenance and increased community forest cover.
Other areas include; enrichment plantation in degraded forests and ecologically fragile areas, strengthening of Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and greater participation especially of women for management for natural resources, improved management of jhum cycle by adopting best practices from NEPED and UNDP projects as well as better commercial forestry alternatives, meet the fuel wood and timber requirements through plantation in the degraded and jhummed fallow land and also through fuel wood substitution by LPG etc, alleviate economic status of rural population and decreasing dependence on subsistence agriculture and establish nurseries for production of quality seedlings/saplings obtained from plus tree, seed production areas, seedling/clonal seed orchards and vegetative multiplication gardens for plantation.
Conserve biodiversity in the state
Although Nagaland has a geographical area of only 16, 579 sq.km, it harbours very rich and unique biodiversity with the state being a part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, Nagaland is endowed with salubrious climate and diverse forest types ranging from alpine in the Saramati to tropical evergreen forests in the foothills which are abound with a large diversity of flora and fauna.
Over the years, extensive uncontrolled logging coupled with the practice of jhum cultivation has resulted in loss of virgin primary forest, the reservoir of species and genetic diversity within which may be hidden the answers to many of the problems facing the world today, thereby wiping out vast resources comprising valuable wild fruit trees, edible shrubs and herbs, medicinal plants etc. and habitat loss for the diverse faunal population in the state.
Other factors such as increasing population along with the GDP based development strategy have further accentuated this loss.
The vision statement stated that regulatory and developmental framework envisaged under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 has to be integrated in biodiversity conservation by suitably adapting it to the state’s requirements of involving communities in biodiversity management and promoting it at village level.
It stated that remedial measures have to be adopted for restoring degraded forests through afforestation and reforestation in all degraded lands and at the same time conserving existing forests with active participation of communities.
The strategy for conserving the endemic floral and faunal gene pool of the state for future generations is co-terminus with the forestry efforts but requires a specific regulatory structure and development initiatives.
Various strategies have been evolved to achieve the objective/goal of conserving biodiversity in the state. The strategies are in the form of establishing community biodiversity conservation areas by putting in place institutional frameworks to involve communities for biodiversity conservation and management, survey and documentation of flora and fauna, identification and conservation of rare, endangered and threatened species, establishments of wildlife corridors, restoration of potential wildlife habitats, strengthening protection measures for wildlife, increase awareness for biodiversity conservation, promote ex-situ conservation of wildlife by developing Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar and Tragopan Breeding Centre, Kohima and establishment of medicinal plants conservation areas.
Promote the sustainable and efficient use of forest resources
Forests are a valuable natural resource for the Naga people. The forestry sectors plays a vital role in the economy of the state which is evident from the fact that the yearly timber export is roughly to the tune of 50,000 cu.m. However, it is pertinent that the extraction of timber is on a sustainable basis and that there is negligible effect on the state’s ecology. Another important forest produce for the people of the state is fuel wood. There has been no in-depth study on the quantity of fuel wood extracted in the state but the continuation of the traditional hearth or fireplace in most Naga homes give a fair picture of the immense demand for fuel wood in the state.
The people in the state also depend on forests for many non-timber forest produce such as medicinal plants, wild vegetables, broomsticks etc. The extradition of such products also has to be based on scientific lines of sustainability.
“Thus, the strategy is to promote the sustainable and efficient use of forest resources so that the pressure in existing forests can be minimized and at the same time increasing the margin of returns from forest enterprise,” it stated.
Manage water effectively
Water is fast becoming a very scarce commodity in the state. At present the state, especially in urban settlement areas are gripped with scarcity of water. Water, both quantitative and qualitative is fast becoming a scarce commodity in Nagaland.
In addition to the general water scarcity experience, there is a failure to manage water and water sources in the state as result of degradation, jhum cultivation and other factors such as ownership.
Natural water catchment areas have been disturbed owing to both developmental as well as anthropogenic pressures. As such, perennial water bodies are now fast becoming seasonal. With the grim spectre of climate change looming on the horizon, appropriate redial strategies have to be put in place to stem the loss of water catchment areas.
Conserve rivers, springs, wetland, aquatic ecosystems
Streams and rivers are the lifeline of Nagaland. All efforts will be made to ensure minimum natural flow in rivers and streams at all times like ensuing constant flow of water on the streams and rivers through activities like catchment area protection and regeneration of forest cover/plantations, soil and moisture conservation, plantations along the stream and river banks etc.
Allocation of water for ecological needs would be done keeping in mind the living needs of aquatic ecosystems.
Wetlands and water bodies will be protected from encroachments by the VCs and community and maintained through scientifically prepared management and action plans.
Water bodies having their origin and passing through reserve forests, community conserved areas or protected forest will be protected under the relevant forest and environmental legal frameworks.
Build on eco tourism
The state government’s department of tourism aims to create awareness on conservation and preservation and nature and local culture. Specifically, messaging on water conservation and creation of economic opportunities for local communities in Khonoma, Dzuleke, Dzükou valley, Mt Saramati, Green Dikhu Project, Benreu, Sendenyu Biodiversity Conservation area, Chida Lake, Japfu peak, Kapamedzu peak, Doyang reservoir and Zanibu range will continue.
Encourage aquaculture practices
Rivers, streams, reservoir, lakes and wet terrace field are some of the surface water sources that can be used effectively to develop aquaculture practices.
Since Nagaland is blessed with a heavy amount of rainfall during the monsoons, a longer aquatic phase is possible alongside the low lying rice fields as well,
Besides this, aquaculture helps improve livelihood generation and can help improve the GSDP of the state as well.
Sport fisheries holds great potential of being employment generating sector as well as boosting tourist inflow due to the availability of sporting fish such as mahseers, trouts and large catfish
Developing feasible areas for sport fishing would involve procurement of angling equipment, organization of angling competition, extension of assistance to angling associations, entrepreneurs etc. from the relevant stakeholders at the state level, the vision statement stated.
