Penkim is the traditional homeland of the Yimkhiung Naga, who reside here and in neighbouring regions. Residents predominantly speak Chirr- Yimkhiung and Langa- Yimkhiung dialects, and Nagamese. Hindi and English are also spoken by a few residents.

The main motivation for keeping aside forest land for conservation was to preserve resources for future generations.

The village council and student union are actively involved in conservation work in Penkim. In the year 2020, Penkim residents had approved various government departments’ request to conduct ecological and geological studies in their community forest. However, these studies are yet to begin. The residents and council are now waiting for this research to guide them to institute new policies/refine existing ones in their community forest.

Once in a year, typically in winter, a general session is held to discuss, rectify and introduce new rules and regulations. The village council and students union have been actively involved in conservation work for decades. Recently, new policies have been passed by the students union with seasonal bans on harvesting birds. 

Societies in Nagaland reserve the right to practice customary laws, which differ among tribes and even different villages. However, at the village level the apex governing body is the village council. The village 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. 

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.

1. Rule no. 7 (Act 2006 and 2007) instituted by the YAA states the prohibition on hunting and collecting rare and endangered species such as the tiger, sambar deer, tragopan, black bear, gaur, hoolock gibbon and pangolins. Defaulters will be fined Rs. 50,000 by the YAA. All villages under Yimkhiung jurisdiction are required to abide by these rules and report any violations. 

2. According to the ref. no 2 act 2006 instituted by the Penkim Village Students’ Union (Amendment 2022): 

For decades, hunting and collection of flora has been prohibited in the CCA. Collection of firewood from dry or fallen trees is permitted in some parts of the forest. 

The entire area is a no-take area. 

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.

Residents believe that the initiative taken by the village council has had a positive impact on local biodiversity. They believe species diversity and populations have increased in the last 2 decades.

Introducing forest related rules and regulations has effectively helped and supported conservation in Penkim.

Financial, logistical and livelihood support from the government and other NGOs is the need of the hour for Penkim, much like neighbouring villages who heavily rely on natural resources directly for their subsistence.

Penkim residents are keen on inviting government agencies and NGOs to scientifically explore their community forest to be able to further refine their rules and regulations