Youth from Khonoma to attend course in naturalism

KOHIMA — A team of seven youth from Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS) is set to attend a three-month certified course in specialised skilled training on ‘Naturalism’ at The Naturalist School in Bengaluru.

The training will be held from August 20 to October 20 next.

It informed that the initiative, aimed at equipping the youth with necessary skills to pursue ‘Naturalism’ as a profession and create livelihood opportunities through ecotourism, was spearheaded by the minister of Horticulture and Women Resource Development, Salhoutuonuo Kruse, and sponsored by the Directorate of Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of Nagaland.

In a press release, team leader of KNCTS, Neikedolie Hiekha, has expressed gratitude to the minister for initiating the programme and to the department for their timely sponsorship.

“This training comes at a crucial moment for KNCTS as Khonoma is seeing a surge in students and nature-based tourists, who are drawn to the region’s unique natural environment,” Hiekha said. 

He was of the opinion that having trained naturalists would enhance KNCTS’s capacity to offer meaningful experiences and strengthen Khonoma’s position as a nature-based tourism destination.

Hiekha further expressed optimism that the training programme would bolster Khonoma’s tourism appeal by providing a pool of skilled naturalists, who can cater to the growing interest in ecotourism and nature-based learning experiences.