Nagaland Faces Significant Forest Cover Loss: Biodiversity Board Chairman Highlights Urgent Need for Conservation

Nagaland has witnessed a concerning loss of forest cover, totaling nearly 795 square kilometers over the past decade. Y Kikheto Sema, chairman of the Nagaland State Biodiversity Board, highlighted the urgent need for community engagement in conservation efforts during the International Day for Biological Diversity event. He emphasized the importance of balancing development with environmental protection and called for local actions to combat threats like deforestation and pollution. Sema envisions Nagaland as a leader in community-led biodiversity initiatives, leveraging its rich ecological heritage for sustainable development. This article delves into the challenges and opportunities for biodiversity conservation in the state.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 23, 2026, 10:00 IST

Urgent Call for Biodiversity Conservation in Nagaland

File image of a subtropical forest in Nagaland (Photo: @HimatoZ/X)

Dimapur, May 23: Y Kikheto Sema, the chairman of the Nagaland State Biodiversity Board (NSBB), revealed that the state has experienced a loss of approximately 794.88 square kilometers of forest cover from 2013 to 2023, as reported in the India State of Forest Report.

During the observance of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2026 at St Xavier College in Jalukie, Peren district, Sema, who also serves as the Principal Secretary of the Nagaland Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, emphasized the state's rich biodiversity.

He pointed out the critical need for collaboration between the government and local communities in efforts to conserve biodiversity, highlighting that over 95% of Nagaland's land and forests are community-owned.

Sema stressed that effective conservation initiatives must involve local communities, educational institutions, churches, civil society organizations, and the Forest Department, alongside biodiversity boards.

He referenced Article 371A, which empowers the people of Nagaland to manage land and natural resources through customary ownership, urging citizens to safeguard the state's biodiversity for future generations.

Advocating for a harmonious balance between development and conservation, Sema envisions Nagaland as a leader in community-driven biodiversity conservation, with significant potential in eco-tourism, cultural heritage, and community socio-capital.

He noted that the state is situated within the ecologically vital Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, rich in forests, wildlife, rivers, medicinal plants, orchids, and traditional agro-biodiversity.

However, he raised alarms about the increasing threats from deforestation, pollution, forest fires, soil erosion, water scarcity, and unsustainable resource extraction.

Sema asserted that local actions are fundamental to global environmental protection, stating, “Small initiatives such as tree planting, village-level conservation, community clean-up efforts, sustainable living, and responsible resource use play a crucial role in achieving global biodiversity objectives.”