Phuye - Interactions on CCA Mapping

We started with a film. This would keep boredom at bay for participants who had arrived on-time as also help lay a platform for further discussions. The film "A Hunter's Tale", that I have facilitated screenings earlier too,  held the participant's interest ~ 

Some of the participants then got on to identifying species in the field-guides. As we wondered on how Hoolock Gibbon and Hornbills were charismatic species from participant's perspective as well, it dawned on us that only the elders were then vocal! On asking the young participants we got to know that none of them had seen either Hoolock Gibbons (Ashuai) or Hornbills ~

As the participants arrived we moved on to Prayer and Introduction by the Nanga Greener Zone (NGZ) Committee; Governing body of Community Conserved Area (CCA) that spans 14 Sema villages ~

Participants had questions for us as well as the Committee. These ranged from whether GPS units would be provided for each village to the need (or otherwise) of mapping the village boundaries within the CCA ~

It then was the turn of first of the 2 presentations of the day. We introduced the Global Positioning System (GPS) by comparing it to a Mobile Phone. Image placed below shares a slide ~

We requested the participants to draw a sketch map of the CCA. This would help all of us to arrive at a common understanding of the CCA, plan the mapping exercise and also bring in participation of a larger number of people ~

The second presentation followed the map. Here we put shared the experience on mapping with another CCA in Nagaland : we described the attributes we recorded and challenges we faced. Idea also was to put across the complexities that they could encounter in the coming weeks ~

After lunch we moved around the village. As we moved we marked locations on the GPS and discussed how we could record them in our pads. As happens the participants opened up as we walked and questions started coming in. End of the day we saw the points on a map ~

2 days post these interactions we walked the CCA boundary at Phuye. We discussed the CCA : their actions and plans, ate wild fruits and at times slipped in old jhum fields as we saw some of them being freshly burnt for the current year~ 

These interactions were organized at Phuye (Zunheboto) during March 2013 as a part of NEPED and FES' efforts in Nagaland. Many thanks to NGZ Committee, people of Phuye and Swati.