1. SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT: OUTCOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS ON FORESTS A COHORT OF 65 FROM AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS OF SMDS – 3, KOHIMA, NAGALAND

2. Theme area 02: ForestsFACILITATORS Saroj K. Barik Saroj K. Barik Rajesh Thadani Rajesh Thadani Vengota Nakhro Vengota Nakhro Zuthonglo Patton & Zuthonglo Patton & Chisayi with Chisayi with Sanjay Deshmukh Sanjay Deshmukh TOTAL NO. OF CONTRIBUTORS: 65

3. General issues ISSUES RELATING TO GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING Earthquake prone region Earthquake prone region Landslides prone Landslides prone Flash floods Flash floods ISSUES RELATING TO PEOPLE People are simple People are simple Agriculture is marginal Agriculture is marginal Ready cash not available Ready cash not available Highly dependent on forest resources Highly dependent on forest resources

4. Forest cover reduction: ReasonsBIOTIC Demand for forest products, i.e., timber, fuel, fodder, herbs and flowers/ fruit Demand for forest products, i.e., timber, fuel, fodder, herbs and flowers/ fruit Free grazing Free grazing Fires Fires Insurgency issues Insurgency issues Issues of defining inter-state boundaries (that lead to biodiversity becomes nobodys property in disputed areas) Issues of defining inter-state boundaries (that lead to biodiversity becomes nobodys property in disputed areas) Encroachment for agriculture, habitation Encroachment for agriculture, habitation

5. Forest cover reduction: ReasonsENVIRONMENTAL Seismic activity leading to landslides, subsidence Seismic activity leading to landslides, subsidence Flash floods Flash floods Fluvial erosion Fluvial erosion Climate change Climate changeDEVELOPMENTAL Dams Dams Road construction Road construction Hydro-electric projects Hydro-electric projects Re-defining of forest lands for development Re-defining of forest lands for development Mining Mining Atmospheric pollution - SPM, acid rain Atmospheric pollution - SPM, acid rain Tourism Tourism

6. General issues ISSUES RELATING TO LAND OWENERSHIP Community land - managed by the village authority. Community land - managed by the village authority. Private land Private land Headman as the sole land owner in some villages Headman as the sole land owner in some villages Individual families owning the land Individual families owning the land Clans ownership Clans ownership Only elder brothers owning the land as in some villages Only elder brothers owning the land as in some villages

7. Concerns LOCAL ISSUES RELATING TO FORESTS Human dependence on forests increasing Human dependence on forests increasing Inadequate data on natural resources inventory which is not shared, not analysed and put to right use Inadequate data on natural resources inventory which is not shared, not analysed and put to right use Change in forest land use pattern (such as shifting agriculture, change for cash crops, etc.) Change in forest land use pattern (such as shifting agriculture, change for cash crops, etc.) Dilemma between conservation forestry and production forestry while framing forest management policy Dilemma between conservation forestry and production forestry while framing forest management policy Contradiction in policies (felling of trees from community owned forests vis-a-vis those for shifting cultivation), due to lack of specific classification of forest types; need synchronisation Contradiction in policies (felling of trees from community owned forests vis-a-vis those for shifting cultivation), due to lack of specific classification of forest types; need synchronisation Forest Ecosystem fragmentation is taking place at rapid pace Forest Ecosystem fragmentation is taking place at rapid pace

8. Concerns GLOBAL ISSUES RELATING TO FORESTS Concerns of climate change and adaptations Changes in geographic distribution of flora and fauna and in timing of seasonal events Changes in geographic distribution of flora and fauna and in timing of seasonal events Threat to high altitude biodiversity within forests due to presence of security forces (presence in large numbers) Threat to high altitude biodiversity within forests due to presence of security forces (presence in large numbers) Increased frequency of extreme climate events Increased frequency of extreme climate events Challenges in access to clean energy as well as conventional source of energy (fuelwood/ biomass) Challenges in access to clean energy as well as conventional source of energy (fuelwood/ biomass) Increase in man-animal conflict Increase in man-animal conflict

9. Challenges CHALLENGES TO FOREST MANAGEMENT Conservation v/s development Conservation v/s development Ecosystem services of forests not quantified and valued Ecosystem services of forests not quantified and valued Degradation and forest loss due to development projects Degradation and forest loss due to development projects Governance challenges: weakening of community institutions, participatory forest management, etc. Governance challenges: weakening of community institutions, participatory forest management, etc. Digitisation of forest boundaries Digitisation of forest boundaries Enhancing forest quality Enhancing forest quality Upscaling of isolated success stories of traditional forest management systems, JFM and Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) Upscaling of isolated success stories of traditional forest management systems, JFM and Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) Codification and recognition of customary laws and practices Codification and recognition of customary laws and practices

10. Strategies STRATEGIES IN THE FORM OF ACTION POINTS Development of a Portal for IMI Development of a Portal for IMI Linking forest patches to facilitate species migration (development of corridors) Linking forest patches to facilitate species migration (development of corridors) Development of threat assessment protocols and in situ conservation models of plant species, and define conservation strategies for medicinal and aromatic plants Development of threat assessment protocols and in situ conservation models of plant species, and define conservation strategies for medicinal and aromatic plants Establishment of market and industrial linkages to enhance the livelihood opportunities of local communities. Establishment of market and industrial linkages to enhance the livelihood opportunities of local communities. Strengthen role community organisations involved in forest conservation and management Strengthen role community organisations involved in forest conservation and management

11. Strategies STRATEGIES IN THE FORM OF ACTION POINTS Replication of models of success stories of forest conservation and management Replication of models of success stories of forest conservation and management Promoting and facilitating clean energy technologies with adequate energy provision for forest dependent communities Promoting and facilitating clean energy technologies with adequate energy provision for forest dependent communities Promote diversification of livelihoods to reduce forest dependency Promote diversification of livelihoods to reduce forest dependency Enhancing forest-based biomass production in the form of food, fuel wood, grass/fodder, timber, bamboo, cane and NTFPs Enhancing forest-based biomass production in the form of food, fuel wood, grass/fodder, timber, bamboo, cane and NTFPs Integrating forest management practices in academic curricula Integrating forest management practices in academic curricula

12. Policy and Governance issues DEVEOPMENT OF POLICIES FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE Awareness and capacity building of stakeholders Awareness and capacity building of stakeholders Documentation of indigenous knowledge systems Documentation of indigenous knowledge systems Identification and protection of catchment areas of biodiversity as hydrological significance Identification and protection of catchment areas of biodiversity as hydrological significance Supporting and initiating actions on payments for ecosystem services, REDD Plus preparedness and define means for equitable sharing of benefits with the communities out of the incentives/ awards Supporting and initiating actions on payments for ecosystem services, REDD Plus preparedness and define means for equitable sharing of benefits with the communities out of the incentives/ awards Governance with regard to streamlining Forest Policies and Laws thereby bringing transparency in Forest Acts and Rules Governance with regard to streamlining Forest Policies and Laws thereby bringing transparency in Forest Acts and Rules

13. Thank you so much!