"The north-eastern state of Nagaland is located at the confluence of the Indo-China and Indo-Myanmar region, and is endowed with rich diversity of species, flora and fauna. Shifting cultivation, locally referred to as jhum, is the main form of agriculture, most suitable for the state?s climate conditions and steep terrain. In recent years, however, the duration of jhum cycles have shortened. This has meant that there is little time for restoring soil fertility and yields are declining over time. Families that were once self-sufficient in food grains are now not able to produce enough even for a few months of the year. There is little time for regeneration, which has accelerated soil erosion and disrupted the hydrology of the area. Nagaland faces a major challenge in adapting land use and production systems to meet rising populations and changing lifestyles, while also maintaining its ecological sustainability. In partnership with the Government of Nagaland, the UNDP project focuses on reducing land degradation resulting from shifting cultivation practices... Objectives: The project aims to address land degradation in shifting cultivation locations in three districts of Nagaland covering 70 villages, through participatory planning, generating awareness, building institutions and supporting integrated farm development that enable sustainable land and ecological management."