Nagaland Community Protects Pangolins via Customary Laws
Why in News
In Nagaland's Kiphire district, local communities are using customary laws and village councils to protect pangolins, which are threatened by hunting and illegal wildlife trade along the Indo-Myanmar border. This initiative supplements the Wildlife Protection Act.
Background
This highlights the role of traditional governance in conservation, crucial for effective implementation of environmental laws like WPA 1972, especially in tribal areas. It also addresses wildlife trafficking challenges.
Key Figure
• WPA 1972 — Schedule I (Pangolins) • CITES — Appendix I (Pangolins) • Article 371A — Special provisions for Nagaland
Key Facts
- 1Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata): IUCN Red List - Endangered | CITES Appendix I.
- 2Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla): IUCN Red List - Critically Endangered | CITES Appendix I.
- 3Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972: Pangolins listed under Schedule I (highest protection).
- 4Kiphire District: Located in Nagaland, along the porous Indo-Myanmar border.
- 5Customary Laws: Recognized under Article 371A of the Constitution for Nagaland, protecting traditional practices.
- 6Wildlife Trafficking: India is a key transit and source country for illegal wildlife trade, often via porous borders.
Exam Angle
The integration of customary laws and local governance structures, as seen in Nagaland's pangolin protection efforts, offers a sustainable model for biodiversity conservation in tribal regions, addressing enforcement gaps in national legislation.
PYQ Connection
PRELIMS_FACT: IUCN status of species; MATCHING: Act with year; GEOGRAPHY: State-district pair.
Map Points