TITLE:
History, Habitat, Ecosystem Services, and Sustainable Tourism Revealed through Geoinformatics Techniques and Field Visit: Comprehensive Study on Khonoma Heritage Village, Nagaland
AUTHORS:
Shreya Basak, Arindam Sarkar
KEYWORDS:
Ecological, Conservation, Sustainable, Community-Driven, Tourism
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.14 No.4,
April
28,
2026
ABSTRACT: Khonoma Heritage Village, located in Nagaland, India, symbolizes sustainable practices and cultural significance. The village, situated in the hilly terrain of Nagaland, is a paradise for nature lovers, offering serene escapes into the region’s natural beauty. Khonoma holds the title of the first green village in India, a testament to its community’s commitment to conservation. The village is home to the Angami tribe, known for its warrior traditions, and played a crucial role in resisting British colonial forces during the Battle of Khonoma in 1879. The village was part of the undivided Assam province, and the British aimed to build a road through it to reach Manipur. The village has a community-driven approach to development and conservation, with local councils playing a pivotal role in decision-making. Robust initiatives are in place to educate locals and visitors about sustainable living and cultural heritage preservation. Khonoma village, established over 500 years ago, relies on cultivation for its livelihood, focusing on cash crops. The village uses jhum cultivation and wet rice cultivation, promoting sustainable agriculture through terrace farming. The village has various plants, trees, flowers, and wild fruits, including cane, bamboo, and colorful orchids. The rich green environment supports biodiversity, with reptiles, butterflies, animals, and birds, including “Blyth’s Tragopan”, found in the area. Khonoma villagers avoid chemical pesticides and fertilizers for farming. Every home in the village has an organic kitchen garden, and the villagers are skilled in traditional crafts like weaving and bamboo work. The village hosts traditional festivals, including Sekrenyi, a significant festival for the Angami tribe. The villagers produce intricate handloom products and bamboo artifacts. Khonoma aims to become a sustainable heritage tourism destination, showcasing historical sites, traditional heritage gardens, and archaeological societies. However, challenges such as maintaining ecological balance, ensuring sustainable tourism, and preserving cultural heritage remain. The study on Khonoma Heritage Village investigates sustainable practices, cultural heritage preservation, community engagement, and challenges using qualitative methods like interviews, focus groups, documentary analysis, and field visits. The study examines how ecological conservation efforts, such as terrace farming and biodiversity preservation, align with cultural traditions like the Sekrenyi festival and traditional crafts. The study also addresses challenges like ecological balance and sustainable tourism promotions while identifying opportunities for heritage tourism. It aims to propose policies for sustainable development and cultural preservation and potentially serve as a global model. The study assessed ecosystem services through remote sensing data, which has been utilized and interpreted by indices mapping like NDVI, LST, and NDWI. Landscape mapping has been done using Google Earth images and topographical maps.