Shillong, Sept 14: A consultation was held on the progress of the 1st Registered 7 Certified Community –Based REDD +Project, a pilot project relating to preservation and promotion of Forest and Biodiversity Conservation, Watershed Restoration & Livelihood Development was held with Bah John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, Govt of Meghalaya, Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, & Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi States, and with Mr Mark Poffenberger, Ph.D, Executive Director, Community Forestry International(USA), in presence of Bah NK Lyngdoh, Lyngdoh, Hima Mawphlang, u Bah H L Ryntathiang, Lyngdoh Hima Lyngiong, u Bah Tambor Lyngdoh, Project Director, of the Synjuk of 10 Khasi Hima/Kingdoms, and along with Dr BK Tiwari, Professor, Center for Environmental Studies, NEHU, on the 13 tarik September 2013, in Pinewood Hotel.
The Forest and Biodiversity Conservation, Watershed Restoration & Livelihood Development is the initiative of the people of the 10 Khasi Hima/Kingdoms with support from Community Forest International (CFI-USA) who have felicitated in the preparation, interaction between the various stakeholders, and the registration and acceptance of this initiative as on of the 1st Registered & Certified Community –based REDD + project, which was validated and certified under Plan Vivo, UK standards and is currently selling credits through private voluntary carbon markets to finance REDD+ mitigation and livelihood activities.
Through this REDD +Project 62 villages are creating, restoring and protecting a forest wildlife corridoe along the Umiam River, connecting sacred forest and forest fragments at the landscape level, which also the drinking water route for Shillong City.
The project involves 10 Khasi Hima/Kingdoms, namely Hima Mawphlang, Hima Lyngiong, Hima Sohra, Hima Mylliem, Hima Nongspung, Hima Nongkhlaw, Hima Nonglwai, Hima Pamsanngut, Elaka Mawbeh and Hima Laitkroh which are all along the Wah Umiam Sub-Watershed, around Hima Mawphlang.
This project involves 62 villages and intends to cover and area of 27,138 hectare, under the 10 Khasi Hima/Kingdoms.
In his deliberations Bah John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, Govt of Meghalaya, stated that this was a very unique pilot project and India’s first REDD+ strategy, and was hopeful that this project would in the future be replicated in different parts of the NE region, which is a hotspot for biodiversity.
This opening hopefully would bring much relief to sustain the livelihood issues of the indigenous and vulnerable people in different parts of the state, especially in view of the fact that in Meghalaya there exist more than 16 catogories of community, clan and private land and forest customary laws. Through this endeavor from CFI(USA) there would be much needed awareness created throughout the state on the need for regulating human behaviour with innovative interventions to provide alternative livelihoods.(SP News)
