Dimapur: Nagaland State Biodiversity Board chairman Y Kikheto Sema on Friday said the state lost about 794.88 sq km of forest cover between 2013 and 2023, citing the India State of Forest Report.He made the statement at the International Day for Biological Diversity 2026 observation at St Xavier College, Jalukie, in Peren district. Sema, who is also the principal secretary of the Nagaland environment, forest and climate change department, highlighted the state’s rich biodiversity.He emphasised the importance of partnership between the govt and local communities for biodiversity conservation, noting that more than 95% of land and forests in Nagaland are community-owned.Referring to Article 371A, applicable in Nagaland, which grants the people of the state control over land and natural resources through customary ownership systems, he appealed to the people not to destroy the state’s rich biodiversity, but to protect and conserve it for future generations. Calling for a balance between development and conservation, Sema envisioned Nagaland as a model for community-led biodiversity conservation with a strong potential in eco-tourism-biodiversity, culture and community socio-capital.However, he expressed concern over the growing threats posed by deforestation, pollution, forest fires, soil erosion, water scarcity and the unsustainable extraction of natural resources. He stressed that global environmental protection begins with local action. “Small initiatives such as tree plantation, village-level conservation, community clean-up drives, sustainable lifestyles and responsible use of natural resources contribute significantly towards achieving global biodiversity goals,” he said.
