In 1998, Khonoma village in Nagaland established the Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS) as one of India’s pioneering community-led conservation models which was primarily focussed on arresting the rapid decline of Blyth’s Tragopan (Tragopan blythii), a vulnerable pheasant species endemic to Eastern Himalayas, to hunting and shifting land-use practices.

Using the current status of Blyth’s Tragopan, the conservation flagship of KNCTS, this study seeks to examine the impacts of 25 years of this pioneering community-based conservation initiative on species recovery, forest protection and local livelihoods. Additionally, it also examines the distribution of other Community Conserved Areas (CCA) within Nagaland and map their history, governance systems and broad goals to contextualise KNCTS within the larger community-based conservation movement in Nagaland.

To explain the current status of Blyth’s Tragopan and the role of KNCTS in conserving them, we placed camera traps across 27 sites within the CCA. The study recorded 82 independent detections of Blyth’s Tragopan with 63 males and 19 females. All individuals were solitary, with activity peaking during early morning and evening hours. While the camera traps provided quantitative data, additional insights came from field observations and local ecological knowledge. Tragopan calls were frequently heard during the study period and signs such as droppings were observed across multiple sites, indicating their wider presence than the sites from where they were captured on the remote cameras.

Through interviews and conversations, many residents of Khonoma shared observations of tragopans over the years. Several mentioned a perceived resurgence in the forest following years of regulated hunting bans and habitat protection under community conservation.

The convergence of camera trap records, field evidence and community observations point towards a possible recovery of Blyth’s Tragopan along with other biodiversity in the region. This progress is likely tied to Khonoma’s long-standing conservation efforts. The collective efforts of the community have contributed to habitat regeneration and improved wildlife presence. In addition to Blyth’s Tragopan, we also documented 32 species of mammals and 23 species of birds during the period indicating the greater impact of the KNCTS in the protection and survival of several large, medium and small carnivore species along with ungulates and other species of birds beyond the flagship species.

To document the impact of KNCTS on the livelihood of local communities, I conducted 15 interviews with key members of the Khonoma village to understand the costs and benefits of conservation outcomes. The interviews revealed that while the presence of several key species, whose population increased as a result of KNCTS, along with the aesthetically pleasing landscapes and development of trekking opportunities, there has been a surge in tourism in the area which has contributed to additional income and was seen as a positive outcome by the larger community. Crop-raiding by wildlife, unsustainable harvesting of NTFPs, financial limitation and the absence of consistent technical support may threaten long-term viability of these efforts.

The observed recovery of Blyth’s Tragopan in Khonoma highlights the importance of combining scientific monitoring with local ecological knowledge. It shows how community-led conservation can lead ecologically resilient and socially grounded outcomes. When conservation efforts are built upon local values, traditional knowledge systems, and participatory governance, they can contribute to lasting ecological recovery and offer models for other biodiversity-rich regions.