Meluri Workshop Focuses on Community Forest Conservation

Kohima: Locals met at the Kükhegwo Village Council Hall in Meluri for a one-day workshop on Community Conserved Areas. The event aimed to boost community stewardship for better forest protection. The Nagaland Forest Management Project, the Phek Divisional Management Unit, and the Foundation for Ecological Security organized the session alongside the Joint Forest Management Committees from Kükhegwo and Akhegwo.

Chenibemo Odyuo, a senior project manager for the Foundation for Ecological Security and team leader for the Nagaland Forest Management Project in Phek, led a session on understanding these areas. He highlighted the connection between biodiversity and local health. Odyuo stressed that conservation needs input from everyone. He said, "Effective conservation is strengthened when local communities are central to decisions concerning forests they depend upon."

Keneivito Christopher Sophi from the Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum discussed how these initiatives started across the state. He drew on his background with the Khonoma conservation project to share lessons with the attendees. Elders, women, and youth spent the day talking about their own forest rules and how things have changed since they started protecting their land.

The groups analyzed local challenges regarding water, climate, and institutional stability. They mapped out a five-year vision and priority actions for their forests. Imlikumba, a senior project manager at the Foundation for Ecological Security, ended the day by leading a discussion on future steps. This consultation sets the stage for better local coordination and action planning for the Kükhegwo and Akhegwo areas.