Shillong May 27: Meghalaya has bagged the ‘India Biodiversity Awards 2016’ under the category ‘sustainable use of Bio-resources’. The awards were presented by Shri. Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra and Shri Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Forests, Environment & Climate Change at a function held at Mumbai to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity, on 22nd May 2016.
Seng Treilang Association, a self help group from Mawkyrnot village, under Pynursla C&RD Block has been conferred with the award in recognition of its contribution in the promotion of root bridges and protection of their surroundings which include the longest known root bridge during the last few years.
It may be mentioned that since 2012, the India Biodiversity Awards are conferred upon eligible organizations or individuals in recognition of their local actions that reflect excellence in biodiversity governance and conservation. The Meghalaya Biodiversity Board filed two nominations for the awards this year, out of which the Mawkyrnot root bridges was shortlisted for further evaluation in the category ‘sustainable use of biological resources’. After a detailed process of evaluation including field visits by a team of Jury, the award has finally come to the State.
It may also be mentioned that the living root bridges are unique to Meghalaya, standing testimony to the traditional knowledge of the Khasi and the Jaintia communities. There can be no better example for ‘sustainable use of bio resources’ than the root bridges.
