Background

Although Forests Deingait constitute 76% of the geographical area of Meghalaya, the forest vegetation cover is only 42.34% of the area. Forests deliver an array of essential environmental services, besides being a major source of livelihood for the people of Meghalaya. Around 88% of the forest area is managed by communities represented by Autonomous District Councils, Traditional Institutions and private owners. However, forests are subjected to high rate of degradation due to climatic and anthropogenic factors resulting in poor productivity, loss of bio-diversity, fragmentation, impairment of springs and loss of water sources. Frequent forest fires and unsustainable shifting cultivation add to this rate of degradation. Besides, the institutional capacity of forest owners and community institutions to sustainably manage their forests is also limited with poor skills, out-dated laws and regulations, poor availability of planting stock, lack of access to technology etc.

In order to address these issues a comprehensive project has been designed with the aim to "restore and conserve natural resources within selected villages by sustainable forest management, livelihood improvement, and institutional strengthening, thereby contributing to conservation of environment, biodiversity, and uplifting of socio-economic conditions of people in the State of Meghalaya".

Objective

To restore and conserve natural resources within the villages by sustainable forest management, livelihood improvement, and institutional strengthening, thereby contributing to conservation of environment, biodiversity, and uplifting of socio-economic conditions of people in the State of Meghalaya.

22 Blocks were identified for the project.