Zanibu Peak

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 Location  Ecosystem Type    Conservation Type    Area(hectare)  Legal status 
Phek, Nagaland  Forest  Ecosystem Conservation >10000   Important Bird Area

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. Zanibu peak is one of the examples on which we could not gather detailed information and is hence briefly presented below.

Typically whenever a very large patch of forest (sometimes extending to a few hill ranges, covering possibly over a hundred sq km) was under no-use zone, it indicates possibilities of ownership conflicts between two or more villages. This appeared to be the case in the forests being protected by Runguzu village along with Thevopitsu, K.Basa, K.Bave, Thiphuzu, Phesachadu, Porba, Sakraba and Pholami. Zanibu peak and surrounding mountains protected by these villages are considered an area of biodiversity significance by conservationists working in Nagaland2. They have also been declared an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Bombay Natural History Society, following the BirdLife International indictors. During our visit it was very obvious that this patch of forest was having an ownership dispute among these villages. However, there also was a management committee, which consisted of the VC chairpersons of all these villages, for the management of these forests. We could not get a better understanding of how this committee functions or how the individual VCs coordinate with each other on matters related to these forests.

1 Source: Field visit to Phek District by Kalpavriksh team in 2005.

2 Personal conversation with Dr. Anwaruddin Choudhury in March 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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Related Information

Important Bird Areas in India - Nagaland

A report on the IBAs of Nagaland.

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