Exploring Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures Through an IPLC lens in Nagaland, India

Organisers: ICIMOD, Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum (NCCAF), and Nagaland State Biodiversity Board (NSBB)

About the consultation

This consultation is aimed at understanding community perspectives on Target 3 of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the potential for CCAs to contribute as other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) to the global 30×30 target. OECMs are defined as: “A geographically defined area other than Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in-situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and services and where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and other locally relevant values” (CBD, 2010).

The objectives of the consultation are:

• To sensitize state functionaries and CCA representatives to OECMs and its potential in Nagaland, understand community perspectives on Target 3 of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and discuss the potential role of OECMs in achieving this target
• Explore community expectations in terms of government support and incentives for stewardship, and discuss tenure, traditional governance mechanisms, and regulations for the conservation and management of CCAs in Nagaland
• To explore the possibilities of declaring CCAs as OECMs in line with recent declarations of other such sites in India, including in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, and gather any issues of concern to IPLCs and potential solutions or enabling conditions for declaring CCAs as OECMs

Background

Nagaland is located within the Indo-Myanmar ‘biodiversity hotspot’ and hosts rich biodiversity, including many rare, endemic, and threatened species. Forest management in the state is characterised by customary land ownership and management, with most of the forested areas owned by clans and managed by village councils and other traditional offices. These customary rights are recognised and protected under Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution.

The history of community conserved areas (CCAs) in Nagaland dates to the 19th Century, but more recently, realising the importance of conservation, communities across the state have voluntarily come forward to declare CCAs on their traditional lands. As of date, it is estimated that there are 407 CCAs, covering over 1700 sq. km, and involving one-third of the villages in the state. Most of these CCAs have various regulations in place for conservation of biodiversity, including bans on hunting and tree felling. The Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum was formally established in 2014 to articulate a common voice for CCAs in the state and to represent them in various national and international forums. As of 2023, a consortium of 28 CCAs and their villages are registered under NCCAF.

Exploring the potential for OECMs

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), adopted during the 15^th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2022 as per CBD/COP/DEC/15/4, is a global framework to reach the 2050 vision of a world living in harmony with nature (CBD, 2022). The framework aims to catalyse, enable, and galvanize urgent and transformative actions to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. This implies putting nature on a path to recovery for the benefit of people and the planet by conserving and sustainably using biodiversity and ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources. The KMGBF has four goals and 23 action-oriented global targets for 2030 (CBD, 2022).

About Action Target 3

Action Target 3 calls to ensure and enable at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures by 2030, recognizing Indigenous and traditional territories, where applicable, and integrated into wider landscapes, seascapes and the ocean, while ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in such areas, is fully consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities, including over their traditional territories.

The output will serve as an important example of IPLCs led OECMs and their potential. The discussions on pros and cons of IPLCs led inclusive landscape governance will inform the state level inputs to the revision of national guidelines on OECM. The story of IPLCs led CCAs can be highlighted in CBD COP16- a case to highlight from the HKH region.