Nagaland Sangtam Community Passes Resolution to Protect Pangolins

Community Action Strengthens Anti-Pangolin Trafficking Efforts

The apex body of Nagaland’s Sangtam community has adopted a resolution aimed at safeguarding pangolins within its traditional jurisdiction, marking a significant intervention against wildlife trafficking along the India–Myanmar border . The decision applies to Sangtam-inhabited regions of Kiphire and Tuensang districts , areas recognised as vulnerable transit corridors for illegal wildlife trade.

Pangolins remain the most trafficked wild mammals globally , targeted for their scales and meat, driving organised smuggling networks across South and Southeast Asia.

Community-Led Conservation Strategy

The resolution was passed by the United Sangtam Likhum Pumji , the tribe’s apex organisation. Conservation groups have described the move as a critical milestone under the Countering Pangolin Trafficking Project led by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) .

The initiative is supported by the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Pangolin Crisis Fund and focuses on curbing illegal trade through community engagement, intelligence-sharing and enforcement coordination.

Ecological and Strategic Significance

The Sangtam region lies within the Indo-Myanmar Biodiversity Hotspot , known for its rich ecological diversity and fragile forest ecosystems. While these landscapes sustain wildlife populations, they are also exposed to poaching pressures.

The long and porous India–Myanmar border (≈1,643 km) has emerged as a major route for transnational trafficking of pangolins and other wildlife species.

Expanding Pattern of Tribal Conservation

The resolution follows similar community-driven conservation measures adopted by tribal institutions in neighbouring states, reflecting the growing role of traditional governance structures in wildlife protection.

Village councils and tribal apex bodies in Nagaland exercise significant influence over land use and natural resource management, making them central to grassroots conservation efforts.

Exam-Focused Points

• Pangolins → Most trafficked mammals worldwide

• Species in Northeast India → Indian & Chinese Pangolin

• Region → Indo-Myanmar Biodiversity Hotspot

• India–Myanmar border → ~1,643 km

• Conservation model → Community-led governance