-Dr Hovithal Sothu, Project Director, TaFMA
Chizokho Vero
Kohima | June 4
Ahead of World Environment Day 2025, The Morung Express sought the opinion of the concerned citizens for preservation and protection of environment with special focus for cleaner and greener Nagaland.
Citizens must adopt eco-friendly habits
Nagaland, known for its natural beauty and rich biodiversity, is now facing growing environmental challenges. Rapid urbanization, deforestation, and plastic pollution threaten the fragile ecosystem of our beloved state. It is time we take collective responsibility to protect and preserve our environment. Citizens must adopt eco-friendly habits such as reducing plastic use, planting more trees and keeping public spaces clean. Schools, communities, and government bodies must work together to promote environmental education and sustainable practices. A cleaner and greener Nagaland is not just a dream-it is a necessity for our future generations. Let us act now before it’s too late. Every small effort counts in building a healthier, more vibrant Nagaland.
-S Keoshu Yimkhiung, Advisor, Youth Resources & Sports, Nagaland
Reduce plastic usage
Reduce plastic usage in the form of carry bags, water bottles, packaging boxes, packets etc. Plant trees/fruit trees in every possible space available and start rearing them the way you rear your domestic animals until they are 3 years old. I have started. It's your turn now. Let us together make Nagaland a cleaner and greener place to live in.
-Dr Hovithal Sothu, Project Director, TaFMA
Strive to preserve natural resources
It is imperative that we prioritize initiatives that promote a Cleaner and Greener Nagaland. Enhancing waste management systems, promoting sustainable practices, and preserving natural habitats which are some most important and crucial steps that I believe to mitigate environmental degradation. As responsible citizens, we must collectively strive to protect and preserve our natural resources for the well-being of both the current and future generations. Let us commit to taking action and advocating for a Cleaner and Greener Nagaland to safeguard our environment and ensure a healthier planet for everyone.
-Seyievinuo Chuzho, PhD Research Scholar & Singer
Start promoting action on environment issues
Government should start awareness campaign on a war footing by engaging all stakeholders, because climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss has impacted Nagaland too, to a large extent. Start promoting action on environment issues by framing a policy and action plan towards managing a sustainable environment. Community participation is effective measures to protect our environment. Furthermore, the Church should take the lead in this effort because it is the largest platform which reaches the grassroot level.
-H Chishi, Senior Journalist
Practice waste reduction
On this WED, we are called to reflect and act on our shared responsibility to protect Nagaland’s rich ecological heritage. From our forests and rivers to the vibrant biodiversity that surrounds us, nature forms the heart of our identity. Yet today, our environment faces threats from deforestation, plastic pollution, and unregulated development. Every citizen must lead by example through sustainable practices like waste reduction, tree plantation and water conservation. Let us draw inspiration from our traditional values of living in harmony with nature and transform that wisdom into modern, eco-conscious living.
-Rongley Leyri, President, Pochury Students’ Union
Plastic waste contributes 6,000–7,000 tons in Nagaland
In Nagaland, environmental concerns like plastic pollution, deforestation, and land degradation demand immediate action. Plastic waste, contributing 6,000–7,000 tons annually in Nagaland, pollutes soil and air through open burning. Deforestation and soil erosion, worsened by hilly terrain, threaten biodiversity. Reduce plastic use, recycle and plant trees to ensure a sustainable future for Nagaland’s lush landscapes and vibrant communities.
-Dziesekhrienuo Keretsü, Member, National Road Safety Council
‘Let us change our lifestyle’
Our streets, streams and rivers are choked with plastic waste, the mess we have created is threatening our own existence today. Out of11 million tons of plastic garbage dumped into water ecosystem annually, one-fifth of the world's plastic garbage is produced in India. This includes the daily generation of about 0.12 kg of garbage per person. Our elders survived and thrived well without plastic, surely, we can all do the same if we resolve to change our lifestyle today.
-Kelhikha Kenye, Education Administrator
Keep the planet healthy and safe
Let us not forget our duties and responsibilities as a steward of God's creation to keep the planet healthy and safe not only for the present but also for future generations. The alarm of global warming and its visible impact be a call to responsibility for a common goal to preserve the health and integrity of the ecosystem.
-Thomas Magh, Chief spokesperson, BJP Nagaland
WED must be an everyday event
WED must be an everyday event, ingrained in our life and lifestyle changes. Each individual must act, policies must be respected and implemented and penalties imposed where necessary. Cleanliness is next to godliness, should be our motivation.
-LH Thangi Mannen, Commissioner & Secretary (Retd), Govt of Nagaland
Protect. Plant. Preserve.
It’s time we end the careless practice of cutting down well-tended trees and plants in the name of “cleaning” or construction. Why should trees in a compound or colony be removed when building a house or cleaning the areas-especially if they pose no hindrance to the construction or place? Let’s clean and build with wisdom, not destruction. Let’s preserve what gives us life, beauty, and balance. Protect. Plant. Preserve.
-Colo Mero, Director, Life Ministries
Advocate for a greener planet
The Naga Students ' Federation urges the students community to advocate for a greener planet. Let us commit ourselves to address the key issues collectively through the following initiatives. Take a stand to plant more trees and become a stewardship that will grow into waves of action. Take a step to collect plastic items in our own local area. Be mindful of our habits that pollute the environment and opting for making a sustainable choice. It is crucial that the student's community continue to push and insist for a mechanism that will secure a safer place to live in.
-Medovi Rhi, President, Naga Students’ Federation
‘Make it greener and safer’
Preserving our environment is our responsibility and therefore, it must become our lifestyle. The earth we live in is a gift from God and we have the responsibility to preserve and safeguard from depleting. We must preserve, protect and make it greener and safer. We must become good stewards and be responsibility in our actions by taking good care of our environment relating to our created world dutifully. Environment day should be taught in our homes, in our schools and in our churches. Don’t make it just an event make a way of life.
-Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho, Former General Secretary NBCC
From pledge to practice
WED should not be reduced to a day of pledges and social media posts. Real change begins with self-discipline and daily choices. Let us go beyond symbolic acts and take responsibility for our actions. If we are serious about a cleaner and greener Nagaland, let us start with these simple yet powerful steps: Stop littering while travelling, dispose waste responsibly, minimize single-use plastics. Let us move from awareness to action—for ourselves, for Nagaland, and for future generations.
-Rutho Nyuwi, Programme Officer NEIDA
Be a better steward of the Earth
Let us take active steps to plant more trees, preserve green belts, maintain cleanliness in our neighborhoods, and protect open spaces from encroachment and pollution. By minimizing the use of single-use plastics like bags, straws, cutlery, and packaging, we can dramatically reduce waste that ends up in our soil and oceans. Let us advocate for sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, water conservation, and pollution control. Together, through mindful living we can shape a healthier planet. Let World Environment Day be not just a celebration, but a commitment; a day when every one of us steps forward to be a better steward of the Earth.
-Er Meshenlo Kath, Convenor CTAN
Do not pollute our rivers
Let us strive to conserve and preserve what we still have. In many cities, trees and hedges are planted around residential, office, and school buildings for beautification as well as for maintaining ecological balance. However, in cities like Kohima and villages across our state, there is a noticeable lack of tree plantations around buildings. Let us take the responsibility to care for and nurture what we plant until it is fully established: Avoid using disposable plastic bags, cups, plates, and bottles as much as possible; Do not pollute our rivers, streams, and drains by discharging waste, including from septic tanks; Choose locally available, seasonal foods and reduce meat consumption; Let each family adopt the practice of planting and maintaining at least one tree per member every year; Let every village enforce a rule: for every tree felled, ten trees must be planted in return; Let us work together for a greener, cleaner and a healthier environment.
-Dr Chotisuh Sazo, Former Speaker, NLA
We must act now
As Nagas, we have shared a deep bond with nature and have always lived holistically with the land and forests for our survival. In just the past 6 to 7 decades, we have begun drifting away from those values. Our beautiful hilly towns are now plagued by unplanned construction, clogged drainage systems, improper waste disposal, shrinking forests, polluted rivers, and increasing plastic waste. Nagaland today is moving rapidly toward environmental degradation. WED is not just a global event. It is a wake-up call, especially for us in Nagaland. If we truly value our land and identity, we must act now. Every village, every community, and every individual must take responsibility. Cleanliness should become a daily practice, not just a campaign.
-Imchatoba Imchen, President, CYO, NDPP
Plea for immediate action to safeguard our natural legacy
Nagaland’s once-thriving ecosystem is teetering on the brink of collapse, ravaged by the unrelenting demands of unchecked development. While progress is undeniably vital, it has exacted a heavy toll-rampant deforestation, vanishing wildlife, and polluted rivers now mar our land. Superficial measures like sporadic tree-planting campaigns are woefully inadequate to counter this devastation. The truth is far more dire: illegal poaching, unregulated logging, and illicit fishing are rapidly eroding our natural heritage, leaving behind a scarred and fragile environment. The soul of Nagaland lies in its verdant forests, its symphony of birdsong, and its rich tapestry of wildlife. Without these, we are left with a shallow imitation of progress, devoid of the essence that defines us. The era of half-measures and complacency is over. We must act with urgency and resolve: enforce stringent anti-poaching laws, adopt a zero-tolerance stance against illegal logging, and commit to rewilding efforts that go beyond token gestures to restore entire ecosystems. Development must either coexist with nature or be fundamentally redefined. Will Nagaland emerge as a beacon of harmony between humanity and nature, or will it become a monument to lost wilderness? We must act now—or forever mourn what we failed to preserve.
-Ar Jwenga Seb, MLA
From women, mother’s perspective
Women, especially mothers can play a pivotal role in creating a greener and cleaner Nagaland, beginning right from their kitchens! By practicing proper segregation of waste like separating biodegradable kitchen waste, recyclables, and hazardous materials they set powerful examples for their families, especially children to follow. Sensible disposal of sanitary napkins and baby diapers in designated bins will eventually prevents environmental pollution. Composting kitchen waste will ultimately reduces landfill burden and enriches the soil. Through daily choices, mothers nurture not only their homes but also the environment at large. Their leadership in waste management will fosters community awareness and responsible living, making them vital agents of change for a sustainable and healthier Nagaland.
-Kekhrienuo Meyase, Member, Nagaland State Commission for Women
Pledge to protect our environment
Almost everyone in Nagaland has heard about the dangers of environment and ecological devastation of our planet, the impending dangers we face in our near future. Yet, most people are complacent and under the erroneous notion that these oft repeated warnings are not going to affect us, that this is a phenomena that is going to happen in other western countries only. Maybe because the most environmentally aware and vocal people are from the developed nations. But in recent years we are seeing the unmistakable ill effects of deforestation in Nagaland too-more and bigger landslides, floods, earth/roads subsidence etc, etc. On this WED, it would be in our future’s interest if we all pledge to protect our environment.
-Limawati Jamir, Director (Retd) DIPR, Nagaland
