Mizoram: First Community Reserve Proposed to Conserve State’s Cultural and Natural Heritage

AIZAWL: The State Board of Wildlife has received the proposal for Mizoram's first-ever Community Reserve, which is a historic step for the state. The Kawnpui Village Council and the Kawnpui Young Mizo Association (YMA) collaborated to take this important action, which the Board has approved in principle.

According to the Forest Survey of India's (FSI) 2021 India State of Forest Report (ISFR), Mizoram has the greatest proportion of forest cover in India, with 84.53% of the country's total land area. The state's continued dedication to protecting its natural heritage is demonstrated by this new project, which is being spearheaded by the local community.

The proposed reserve is in Kawnpui, a community around 2.5 hours' drive from Aizawl. The Kawnpui-l Village Council owns 620 hectares of forest property in the area in question, Zotlang Ngaw.

Before 1920, it was an ancient settlement; after that, it was abandoned and moved 500 meters away to the modern-day town of Kawnpui. The Kawnpui Village Council took action in response to attempts to turn the region into private cultivable property in the 1980s.

To protect its biological integrity, 34 families were relocated from the area in 1993, although conservation efforts were led by the Kawnpui YMA and local NGOs.

The Himalayan black bear, sambar deer, wild boar, and a variety of bird species, including the golden-headed tailor bird, peacock, and pheasant, may all be found at Zotlang Ngaw, a hotspot for biodiversity.

The region is also home to reptiles such as the monitor lizard, king cobra, and Burmese python. Additionally, the area is an important catchment area for the Chal Lui, Meidum Lui, Mualzem Lui, and other rivers that provide water to the town of Kawnpui.

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