Abstract:

This document is the first published PBR for Nagaland, and documents the biological and cultural resources of the village Sükhai, located in the heart of Nagaland in Zunheboto district. The Sükhai PBR consequently represents the first step in the State's efforts to document its people's cultural connections with biodiversity, and is thus an important element in the implementation of the Nagaland Biological Diversity Rules. The objectives of this study which are in tandem with those specified by the National Biodversity Authority are to develop and maintain an inventory of known biological resources, and to document the traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity in Sükhai. By doing so, we chronicle local communities‟ knowledge about their biological heritage and also foster a commitment among them to conserve their rich traditions. The history of the Sema Nagas, the tribe inhabiting Sukhai village, and their association with nature are highlighted. The study also documented the demography of the village, the different traditions and customs, art forms and festivals in the chapter on 'Peoplescapes', and have attempted to understand and to document the links of the culture and the economy of the Sema people with their local biodiversity.