Chishilimi Village

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 Location  Ecosystem Type    Conservation Type    Area(hectare)  Legal status 
Zonheboto, Nagaland  Forest  Ecosystem Conservation Not Available  Not Available

Case Study (2009)

Background

In addition to the detailed case studies presented in this volume, Nagaland is full of stories of different village communities having regulated the use of certain patches of forests in various ways. Some have declared hunting bans; others have prescribed no forest use at all; while yet others have declared seasonal ban on hunting or other uses. The degree of success in implementing the rules also varies from community to community. In Zonheboto and Phek districts, signposts have been put up along many roads by village youth associations, warning readers that the area is under strict protection. According to wildlife enthusiasts who visit the state regularly, these signboards are effective enough to deter hunters. In a state like Nagaland this is of great significance. These areas are among the few where one can see direct signs of any wildlife in the otherwise silent forests of Nagaland. Chishilimi village is one of the examples on which we could not gather detailed information and is hence briefly presented below.

According to K.N. Chishi from Chishilimi village in Zonheboto District, in 1995 the villagers realized that they had nearly destroyed the environment. The village council decided to protect wildlife in the village. The village has 100 households with a jhum cycle of 18 years. Villagers decided to protect area falling under two jhum cycles on the western part. There are no fixed laws and regulations for protection, except for a resolution passed by the village council. The responsibility to protect wildlife rests with the entire village. No collection of forest produce and hunting is allowed in the Protected Area. Villagers continue to hunt in areas outside the reserve. However, if the animal enters the reserve then it cannot be hunted. In addition, hunting through ambush has been banned in the entire village. The major threat in the village is from the neighbouring villages, which continue to hunt in the Protected Area. After the hunting by neighbours continued, Chishilimi villagers decided to confiscate and sell the weapons used for hunting by the offenders. 50 per cent of this money is given to the informer and rest goes to the village council. Some violations by local villagers themselves have been brought to the notice of the VC. The VC has recently re-affirmed the resolution.

6 Source: Presentation by K.N. Chishi (also Additional Secretary in Department of Law and Justice, Nagaland) during a workshop on Biodiversity and Communities in Nagaland, organised by Kalpavriksh, Nagaland Empowerment of People through Economic Development (NEPED) and ICIMOD at Kohima on 24 February 2005.

This case study was part of the Directory on Community Conserved Areas (2009), published by Kalpavriksh. The directory can be downloaded here.

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