Nagaland conservation group urge government to reconsider oil palm expansion

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Community Conserved Areas’ Forum (NCCAF) raised concerns about the government’s push for large-scale oil palm plantations in the state.

In a letter to the state Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, the NCCAF warned of potential environmental damage and urged the government to prioritise sustainable alternatives.

Representing 29 Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) and 120 villages, the forum expressed concern that oil palm plantations could “severely disrupt the delicate balance between conservation and community development.”

The group, which advocates for the preservation and sustainable management of Nagaland’s forests, stated that while financial gains from oil palm cultivation might appear promising in the short term, the long-term environmental costs are far more damaging.

“Research and experience from other regions have shown that oil palm plantations often lead to large-scale deforestation, the destruction of critical habitats, loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, and water contamination,” the NCCAF stated in its letter.

Emphasising the rich biodiversity of Nagaland’s forests, it cautioned that replacing these ecosystems with oil palm monocultures would have “catastrophic” consequences for local species and communities who rely on the forests for their livelihoods.

“Species that rely on these forests would lose their habitats, and the communities who depend on forests for sustenance and livelihoods would face environmental degradation that would be difficult to reverse. The long-term impacts of such plantations on soil health, water resources, and ecological stability cannot be understated”, it added.

While acknowledging that the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change was not directly responsible for implementing oil palm plantation projects, the NCCAF urged the ministry to take a stand against expansion in ecologically sensitive areas like Nagaland.

It urged the government to instead promote sustainable agricultural practices that balanced environmental conservation with the economic well-being of local communities.

“The preservation of Nagaland’s forests is a priority that transcends financial gains, as the long-term benefits of conserving biodiversity, maintaining ecosystem services, and protecting the environment far outweigh the short-term profits of monoculture plantations,” it added.