From our Correspondent

DIMAPUR, JULY 17: A two-day workshop on Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) and Framework for Management Plans, organized by Nagaland Empowerment of People through Energy Development (NEPED) and Foundation for Ecological Security (FES), got underway on Monday at Hotel Japfu, Kohima.           

Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Nagaland, Temjen Toy, in his inaugural speech said NEPED has been in existence for more than 15 years and that it started extending services by planting trees in jhum lands, planting cash crops and subsequently trying out micro financing, strengthening jhum, addressing climate change and facilitating the Community Conserved Areas. He said that the communities have been doing a great ecological service to mankind by conserving forest but there is a lot to be done for continuity. He said that the workshop has been organized at the right time to chalk out management plans, which needs to be formulated according to the needs of the different areas.

While acknowledging the traditional knowledge of the villagers, Temjen said that we need to empower them with ideas and act as facilitators. He also said that there is need for scientific inputs keeping in mind the conditions of the region. He hoped that something tangible would come out of the workshop and wished the participants and the resource persons the very best.

Executive Director, FES, Jagdeesh Rao, who gave a briefing on the workshop objectives said that there is a need to mainstream conservation alongside the dominant notions of development so as to integrate concerns of sustainable use (of the resources) and ensure livelihood security of the people. NEPED and FES have initiated the preparation of a management/conservation plan for one CCA to comprehend various issues involved in developing such plans. He further underlined the need to bring together experiences of evolving conservation/management plan from across the country as well as share the experiences so far in the context CCAs of Nagaland.

Team leader, NEPED & Commissioner & Secretary, Government of Nagaland, Amandeep S Bhatia, delivered the welcome speech and JV Sharma, TERI, gave the keynote address.