DIMAPUR, May 2 - Germany will provide a grant of up to 6.5 million euros (approximately Rs 50 crore) from 2019 to 2026 to safeguard biodiversity conservation in select community conserved areas (CCAs) and also improve the living conditions and income of the local population in the peripheral areas of protective forests in Nagaland, an official release quoting the Chief Minister�s office stated today.
The project covers 12 CCAs, around 70 villages and six districts of Nagaland � Wokha, Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Kohima, Peren and Phek.
The project was launched by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, vide Election Commission of India approval letter No. 437/NL/2019 (MCC) � NES � 1 dated April 20, 2019, on Tuesday during the visit of a German delegation headed by the Charge d�Affairs Dr Jasper Wieck to the State, the release added.
Dr Wieck met Nagaland Governor PB Acharya, Chief Minister Rio and Chief Secretary Temjen Toy and exchanged views on the situation and prospects in Nagaland. Special attention was paid to the official launch of the forestry and biodiversity management project between India and Germany in the Himalayan region component, Nagaland.
The KfW Development Bank is responsible for implementation of the project. The Indian project partners are the Nagaland State Biodiversity Board and the Nagaland forest department as well as the Nagaland Environment Protection and Economic Development Agency. The German delegation included, among others, the German Consul General in Calcutta, Michael Feiner, as well as representatives of the KfW Development Bank and the German Organisation for International Cooperation (GIZ). The delegation was on a two-day visit to the State from April 29.
Germany is a global partner of the Indian Government, particularly with regard to implementation of the agreed climate targets of Paris and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As part of the Indo-German environmental programme, German experts advised those responsible in the North East region to maintain and improve the living conditions of the population despite climate change, prevent rural exodus and create prospects for indigenous population groups. The North Eastern region and the Himalayas are particularly affected by climate change, the release added.
