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CEE's
intervention to make `Khonoma' - a `Green Village' in
Nagaland
As part of the 'Khonoma Green Village
Project' (KGVP) supported by the Union Ministry of Tourism
and Culture, ecotourism is being promoted in Khonoma
village. CEE is one of the agencies involved in conducting
environmental impact assessment (EIA) to avoid any environmental
damage that may happen because of tourism. Guidelines,
codes of conduct and environmental indicators are being
worked out before the tourist flow starts.
Khonoma, an Angami Naga village in
Nagaland, situated 21 km west of Kohima is endowed with
rich forest cover and rare biodiversity. CEE started
working in Khonoma way back in 1994, soon after the
launch of CEE North-East in 1993. As the interest of
the people grew in CEE's programmes, the modest environmental
awareness was scaled up and projects like BAIDIK (Biodiversity
Awareness Integration through Documentation of Indigenous
Knowledge), NEEPS (National Environment Education Programmes
for Schools) and Darwin Initiative (Conserving India's
Biodiversity through NGO training and Projects with
Local communities) were taken up by CEE in Khonoma.
The interventions helped strengthen capacities of the
local community.
As a result of environmental awareness created Khonoma
has reserved about 70 sq km of its village forest as
'Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary'
(KNCTS). The formation of KNCTS is a remarkable achievement.
The 'Village Council' of Khonoma (the apex governing
body of the village) since 1998 has banned hunting not
only in KNCTS but in the entire forest area of the village.
KNCTS is a unique example of the community initiative
for wildlife and environment conservation
Recently, the Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture,
through the Nagaland State Department of Tourism has
provided support to initiate KGVP for the development
of ecotourism using the resources of KNCTS and the cultural
heritage of Khonoma. This is first of its kind project
in the country. Many other agencies have also extended
support to this initiative.
A 2-day workshop on various aspects of the Khonoma EIA
study was organized by 'Khonoma Tourism Development
Board' (KTDB) at Khonoma from 27th to 28th August where
CEE and two other agencies were invited to share the
EIA study. The rationale, objective, methodology followed
and important highlights of the Khonoma EIA study were
discussed in the workshop. Some basic indicators to
be adopted for the monitoring and impact assessment
process were explained.
Some of the recommendations of the study are: to have
a strong monitoring system and reduce or minimize negative
impacts of tourism; to continue the EIA study process
from time to time; to encourage the entire village to
give inputs into the EIA study data body, especially
in terms of traditions and legends; documentation and
development of the legends of Khonoma; documentation
of history of Khonoma; identification and development
of Unique Selling Propositions (USP) of Khonoma (these
may be some birds and plant species, agriculture, monsoon,
crop harvesting); designing packages for tourism in
Khonoma with detailed itinerary; organizing village
youth as tourist guides, imparting them necessary training,
sending them out for more professional training and
exposure; selling local products, i.e., handicraft and
handloom; inviting members of the travel media to come,
experience and write on Khonoma, to popularize it as
a tourist destination etc.
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