A one-day workshop on Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) was held at Kükhegwo Village Council Hall, Meluri, focusing on strengthening community stewardship for the sustainable governance, protection and conservation of CCAs.
The workshop was organised by the Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP), Divisional Management Unit (DMU), Phek, in collaboration with the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) and the Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) of Kükhegwo and Akhegwo villages.
A session on “Understanding Community Conserved Areas” was facilitated by Chenibemo Odyuo, Senior Project Manager, Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) and FNGO Team Leader, NFMP Phek. The session explored the significance of CCAs for biodiversity conservation and community wellbeing, different forms of community conservation in Nagaland, and the importance of local institutions, knowledge and collective decision-making in strengthening community stewardship.
Odyuo emphasised that the strength of a CCA lies in the community itself, highlighting the importance of inclusive participation of elders, women and youth in conservation and decision-making. He also highlighted FES’s work on commons and community-led governance of natural resources, encouraging communities to build upon their existing knowledge, institutions and practices.
The workshop also featured a session on the genesis and evolution of CCAs in Nagaland, led by Keneivito Christopher Sophi, Joint Secretary, Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum (NCCAF) and former Executive Secretary of Khonoma CCA, who shared experiences and lessons from early community conservation initiatives.
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Community members from Kükhegwo and Akhegwo, including elders, women, youth and community leaders, participated in group discussions on their CCA journeys, existing governance systems, rules and regulations, and changes observed since establishment.
The discussions further examined challenges and opportunities related to forests, biodiversity, water, climate and community institutions, followed by the development of a five-year vision and identification of priority actions for conservation.
Participants also discussed the institutional, technical, financial and human resources required for effective CCA management, including the roles and support required from communities, government departments, NGOs and other external agencies.
The programme concluded with presentations from the two village groups, consolidation of key priorities and a way-forward session led by Imlikumba, Senior Project Manager, FES.
The workshop placed particular emphasis on listening to the communities and documenting their own experiences, knowledge and aspirations, recognising that effective conservation is strengthened when local communities are central to decisions concerning the landscapes they have traditionally cared for and depend upon.
