The first Community Conserved Area (CCA) workshop focused on the conservation of the Clouded Leopard and other small wild cat species in Nagaland was held on April 26 and 27, 2025 in Khonoma village, Nagaland.
The workshop was initiated by Giridhar Malla, a conservation biologist and leader of the Eastern Himalayas Marbled Cat Project. The primary aim of the workshop was to promote the conservation of small wild cats in Nagaland and to enhance understanding of their ecological value within local landscapes.
The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation from individuals across CCAs in Nagaland. Many participants were experiencing CCA training for the first time, and their eagerness to learn about conservation efforts was highly encouraging. Participants came from various districts of Nagaland, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences, which made the workshop highly interactive and insightful.
The sessions included presentations on small wild cat species found in Nagaland, the role and importance of CCAs, success stories of conservation initiatives within Nagaland, an introduction to citizen science, and techniques for identifying wildlife signs and the use of camera traps. Interactive group activities were also conducted, focusing on forest corridor management within CCAs, habitat restoration, and the development of local conservation strategies.
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A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis exercise was carried out, during which participants discussed key challenges such as policy gaps, illegal hunting, unregulated development, climate change, and forest fires. They also identified major strengths, highlighting strong community cooperation, rich traditional ecological knowledge, and the potential for sustainable tourism.
On the final day, participants engaged in a practical field trek where they received hands-on training in installing camera traps, identifying wildlife signs, and using GPS devices, which allowed participants to gain firsthand experience in field methods. After returning from the field, each group prepared a basic conservation action plan with specific commitments and timelines.
The workshop concluded with a closing ceremony, the distribution of participation certificates, and a discussion regarding the next meeting’s venue and schedule.
This workshop was made possible with the support of Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS), Eastern Himalayas Marble Cat Project, Panthera, Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation (SWCCF), Nagaland Community Conserved Area Forum and the Clouded Leopard Working Group
The success of this first CCA workshop has laid a strong foundation for future collaborative conservation initiatives across Nagaland.
