Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio launched the Enhancing Landscape and Ecosystem Management (ELEMENT) Nagaland Project at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Kohima on Wednesday.
The project, funded by the World Bank–International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), will be implemented over five years across 225 villages in 16 districts.
“This is not just another initiative but a significant milestone in restoring, conserving, and sustainably managing Nagaland’s resources. It will promote sustainable agricultural practices, strengthen institutional capacity, and safeguard critical natural resources,” Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio posted on X.
The project seeks to restore and strengthen Nagaland’s landscapes through sustainable ecosystem management, enhance climate resilience, support livelihoods, and foster community-led development.
Project ELEMENT will be implemented by the Society for Climate Resilient Agriculture in Nagaland (SoCRAN) under the Agriculture Production Commissioner Cell (APC Cell).
Rio added that due to erosion of natural resources, landslides, and shifting cultivation, the climate impact has increased the vulnerability of our poor rural people.
Rio further said that forests are not just natural assets, but are deeply intertwined with the life, customs, and traditions of tribal and rural communities.
Kumar Ramnikant, Secretary & Project Director, ELEMENT, said the initiative comes during a time when Nagaland is facing environmental and development challenges, like declining forest cover, soil erosion, pressure on water resources, and increasing impacts of climate change.
He said that communities depend heavily on forests for their livelihoods and are directly affected, making it sensitive for the state to adopt a more integrated and longer approach to manage the landscapes.
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Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen, while delivering the keynote, highlighted the significance of the ELEMENT project and emphasized the importance of effective implementation, timely completion, and active community involvement to ensure the project’s success in the state.
