The author, Ethel Odyuo, is Team Leader, Field NGO – Natural Nagas, NFMP

Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP), with financial assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is being implemented to strengthen the forestry sector of the State, with long term goals of environmental conservation and poverty alleviation. The project aims to improve the forest ecosystem by promoting sustainable jhum, forestland management and biodiversity conservation. It also provides livelihood opportunities for enhanced household incomes through convergence and institutional strengthening.

The implementation of NFMP JICA by Divisional Management Unit (DMU) Wokha, covering 20 villages are planned to achieve through Joint Forest Management (JFM) approach with harmonized socio-economic development of local communities, Forest Department and Field NGO – Natural Nagas. The project activities comprise of Forestry Intervention and Biodiversity Conservation through community participation, Livelihood Improvement through SHGs and Institutional Strengthening by adopting sustainable practices to ensure forest and biodiversity restoration, supporting local livelihood and economic development.

Currently, different forestry conservation models were implementing in 14 villages (Batch I, II & III) including Jhum Agro Forestry (JAF), Jhum Fallow Forestry (JFF), Jhum Conversion to Forestry (JCF), Jhum Conversion to Community Conservation Area (JCC) and Protection and Expansion of Community Conserved Area (PEC) with ecosystem-based approaches, community-led conservation and sustainable forest management. During plantation season, native tree species were planted in the forestry models with systematic and meticulous plantation activities such as burning of debris, lining, staking, pit digging, planting different species of saplings and maintenance works. Soil and Moisture Conservation (SMC) works were carried out including staggered trenching, stone bunds, log bunds and other traditional soil conservation method. Waterbodies were also identified and geotagged in the PEC model areas where cleaning and planting of saplings in an around the wetland areas were undertaken followed by hoisting of National Flag on Independence Day with special regard to Mission Amrit Sarovar. Moreover, tremendous efforts are underway by the stakeholders in the 5 forestry intervention models to become structurally and functionally beneficial for the people dependent on the forest and conservation of rich biodiversity found in the areas.

Simultaneously, alternative sources of livelihood with a motive to reduce forest pressure were providing for enhanced household income through adoption of Women Self Help Groups from the project villages. NFMP successfully released Revolving Fund (RF) credit linkages to 42 SHGs from 14 villages in Wokha, as per the proposed Income Generating Activities (IGA) business plans prepared where the activities undertaken included Floriculture, Weaving, Ginger Cultivation, Jaggery Processing, Passion Fruit Juice Processing, Poultry, Piggery, Pickles Processing, Ginger Processing, Soyabean Processing, Doyang Fish Processing, Organic Farming, Pineapple Cultivation, Yam Cultivation and Banana Chips Processing. All the SHGs were generating steady income from the IGAs taken up and with an aim to streamline the effort and establish sustainable market linkages, the brand name, “FRESHLY WOKHA- bringing consumers to producers”, have been initiated and utilizing for the processed SHG products under NFMP JICA. There is exposure and promotion of FRESHLY WOKHA products in every provided platform by NFMP team for enhancement in packaging, labelling and sustainable market linkages. Thus, livelihood component under NFMP empowered women of the project villages to enhance their household’s income and depicting improvement in livelihood.

Read more: NFMP JICA conduct 2 days training on post harvest management at Wokha

NFMP JICA implementation at DMU Wokha, for forestry intervention, livelihood improvement and institutional strengthening in 14 villages thus far, have a great positive impact in providing an opportunity for the safeguard of forest and biodiversity conservation towards a sustainable future.

As we celebrate World Environment Day 2024 under the theme, “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience”, implementation of NFMP JICA, which is a community-based project and focuses on increase in tree density, biodiversity conservation, livelihood improvement and institutional strengthening are essential tools for sustainable development and human well-being. Forestry interventions will improve forest ecosystem, increase land restoration of Jhum areas, combat desertification and drought resilience. Thus, there is an urgent need of collective and collaborative efforts from all the stakeholders for effective implementation of NFMP JICA towards a sustainable future.

Ethel Odyuo

Team Leader,

FNGO – Natural Nagas, NFMP

Read more: Annual review meeting held for DMU Wokha under NFMP for 2023-24