The Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum (NCCAF) has launched a public appeal for assistance in mapping hornbill habitats across the state. The forum is seeking help from communities, village councils, conservation groups, birdwatchers, students, researchers, and the general public to report hornbill sightings, nesting sites, and important habitats. NCCAF is collaborating with the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) as a knowledge partner, leveraging the NCF’s expertise in hornbill research, citizen science, and community-based conservation.
The initiative aims to gather information on active and old nesting sites, regular sightings, feeding or roosting areas, and local knowledge about hornbill habitats. Even old photographs or recollections of previously used nesting sites can be useful. The collected records will help map hornbill distribution and identify important sites for field verification and potential community-based conservation.
This includes protection of nesting trees and habitat monitoring. NCCAF also plans to explore the use of artificial nest structures in suitable locations where natural nesting cavities are scarce, subject to habitat assessment, technical guidance, and community consent. The forum has assured that precise locations of sensitive nesting sites will remain confidential and emphasized that the initiative is not an inquiry into hunting.
No field visits will be undertaken without prior consultation and approval of the concerned customary authorities. NCCAF can be reached through WhatsApp at 9862000975 or email at nagalandccaforum@gmail.com / nccaf@outlook.com for those willing to share records and contribute to the initiative.
