Sangtsung Village falls under the Kiusam sub-divison in Kiphire district, Nagaland. This area falls under the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot (Conservation International), and the Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary and Saramati area, an Important Bird Area recognized by Birdlife International, and Key Biodiversity Area. The mountainous forest landscape ranges from Subtropical Evergreen, Temperate Broadleaf to Northern Montane Wet Temperate Forests.

This village is the traditional homeland of the Yimkhiung Naga who speak Makori-Yimkhiung and Langa- Yimkhiung dialects, and Nagamese. Hindi and English are also spoken by a few residents. Sangtsung’s residents rely on a host of nature-based livelihoods, primarily swidden farming, mushroom picking, hunting and timber collection, to name a few. According to the 2011 census, the literacy rate is below 40%. The village does not have a primary school, and students have to travel to nearby towns such as Salumi and Pungro to enrol in school. 

Conserving natural resources to secure the lives of future generations served as the base to start conserving the area. 

Over the years, residents noticed the decline in populations of sambar deer (Rusa unicolor). They then decided to implement strict rules for hunting of this species in the hope to protect it and allow its populations to grow. 

Sangtsung Village Council and Citizens Union are the main decision making bodies here. As in most Naga communities, no women are part of these groups. The council is made up of gaon burrahs (village elders) and their elected council members, led by the elected council chairman. Historically, women have been excluded from decision making and hold no place in the village council in most Naga societies. Customary laws have precedence in Nagaland and may differ among different tribes and even different villages at times. More recently, the Sangtsung Village Students Union (SVTU) has begun taking part in management and governance of the CCA.

Important decisions, new rules and amendments are introduced and contested at the annual general sessions of each of these groups. Activities conducted during the year and plans for next year are discussed. These meetings typically take place in the last week of December. 

The Yimkhiung Akherü Arihako (YAA) is the apex Yimkhiung students’ union. In 2006 and 2007 they instituted two acts to ban the hunting of rare and endangered species to be enacted in all Yimkhiung occupied villages and jurisdictions.

Since its establishment, different rules and regulations have been implemented in the CCA and violations are punishable with fines. Some of them include:

1) Resolution no. 8: Hunting is not permitted within Sangtsung’s community forest. Additionally, persons found hunting or in possession of airguns within the forest premises will be fined Rs. 50,000. 

2) Resolution no 13: No citizen of Sangtsung village will keep/rear mithun under its jurisdiction. If any mithun of the neighbouring villages are found causing destruction to crops in the field or any resources within Sangtsung’s jurisdiction, the mithun may/will be killed.

3) If anyone is found starting a forest fire in Sangtsung’s jurisdiction, they will be imposed with a fine of Rs. 15,000.

4) If anyone is found collecting or extracting timber under Sangtsung’s jurisdiction, they will be imposed with a fine of Rs. 25,000.

The whole CCA of 550 ha is a no-take area. This is a permanent practice. 

Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution confers that no act of Parliament shall apply to the State of Nagaland in respect of the religious or social practices of the Nagas, its customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law and ownership and transfer of land and its resources. This makes local communities in Nagaland the de facto owner of their community forests, unless stated otherwise.

The CCA was initiated primarily to secure land and its resources for the youth and future generations. 

Sangtsung’s residents believe that the CCA has greatly benefited biodiversity and populations of the local flora and fauna. Particularly, they have noticed an increase in sambar deer populations, after instituting strict bans on hunting this species, one of the primary motivations of establishing the CCA.

Implementing strict rules and regulations and willingness from residents to conserve their forests have supported the CCA in Sangtsung.

Since a majority of the population are illiterate, residents of Sangtsung believe that education is very crucial at this point. 

Further, lack of financial support has been a long standing barrier for any individual/group within the community to start managing and working on conserving Sangtsung’s forest and its wildlife more proactively. Residents are also keen on engaging in education programs to better understand wildlife conservation and its impact on their community.

The community strives to implement strong policies to conserve forests and natural resources for their kin, the biggest motivation to begin conservation efforts in the first place.

The citizens of Sangtsung village also hope to invite governmental and non-governmental organisations to extend support and scientifically explore their forest. They believe this could be a doorway for development and employment opportunities for their community, while also protecting their forests.