The Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) has been honored with the SKOCH Award 2024, a prestigious recognition that celebrates outstanding contributions to national development. The award was presented at the 100th SKOCH Summit, which took place at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on February 15, 2025. Ango Konyak, the Deputy Project Director of NFMP, along with Wennyei Konyak, the Resident Commissioner of Nagaland House in New Delhi, accepted the award on behalf of the Department of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (DEFCC), Government of Nagaland (GoN). This project, backed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aims to enhance forest ecosystems, rehabilitate jhum (shifting cultivation) areas, and improve livelihoods through sustainable practices.
The NFMP is a significant initiative with a 10-year timeline, aiming to conserve forests and uplift communities through targeted interventions. It involves 185 villages across 11 districts in Nagaland and spans over 79,000 hectares. The main aim is to improve forest management, foster environmental conservation, and develop sustainable livelihoods in rural areas, with the creation of self-help groups being a vital aspect of the project..
Key Objectives
- Project Goal: Improve forest ecosystems, support income generation, and rehabilitate jhum areas.
- Implementation: The project is managed by the DEFCC, Government of Nagaland, with assistance from JICA.
- Duration: 2017-2027.
Coverage
- Area Covered: 79,096 hectares under forest intervention, with 185 villages across 11 districts and 22 forest ranges.
- Livelihood Support: 555 self-help groups to be formed under the livelihood component.
- Focus Areas: Sustainable forest management, environmental conservation, and improving livelihoods through village-specific interventions.
