Shillong, June 01: Dolloi Chiefs of Jaintia Hills agree to work with SPIKAP to implement GEF/ UNDP pilot project grant for protection of 6 Sacred Forest, as a pilot project and to also sensitise those incharge of the Community Village Forest, Clan Forest and Large tracts of Private Forest
A meeting of the Chiefs (Dolloi) of Jaintia Hills was held under the Chairmanship of Mr Wenly Dhar, Dolloi Elaka Shangpung together with Bah John F Kharshiing, Co-Chairman, MSPB, Chairman, Ka Dorbar Ki Khlieh Nongsynshar Ka Ri Hynniewtrep & Chairman, Society for Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge and Practice (SPIKAP), in the office of the Dolloi Shangpung at Shangpung Village on 29 May 2014.
The meeting was chaired by Dolloi Shangpung, in presence of Elders of Elaka Shangpung, together with Mr Comet Rymbai, Dolloi Elaka Jowai, Mr Chawas Lyngdoh, Dolloi Elaka Rymbai, and Mr Erudith Sutnga, Dolloi Elaka Sutnga.
During the meeting, Mr John F Kharshiing, Chairman, Co-Chairman, MSPB, & Chairman, Society for Promotion of Indiginous Knowledge and Practice (SPIKAP), informed that SPIKAP had written to GEF/ UNDP (United Nations Development Program) since 2010 (four years ago), and after much deliberation and discussions GEF-UNDP /SGP informed SPIKAP in January 2014, that the GEF / UNDP Small Grants Program, had agreed to the proposal from SPIKAP and sanctioned Rs 24 Lakhs as a pilot project to be released in four installments, for the purpose of promoting, involving, engaging, revitalize and strengthen the time tested ancient natural social fencing that exist in the indigenous traditional institutions in preserving their beliefs in their Sacred Forest, Community Village Forest, Clan Forest, and large tracts of Private Forest, given the tremendous pressure and threat from increasing human activities.
He informed, that the pilot project also aims to sensitise and engage State Government agencies to collaborate and converge their activities in exploring steps to increase and improve forest cover through aided natural regeneration and artificial regeneration practices in these sacred forests. Assist in the extension of area’s of the Sacred Grove’s, Community & Village Forest, Clan Forest, and the large tracts of Private Forest. Promote and protect Wildlife in the Sacred Grove Community & Village Forest, Clan Forest, and the majority Private Forest with natural forests. Conserving the Sacred Forests Community & Village Forest, Clan Forest, the large tracts of Private Forest and remaining natural forests with their varieties of flora and fauna thereby conserving the biological biodiversity of the region.
Bah John F Kharshiing, also stated that the pilot project also aims to engage State Government agencies to Prevent soil erosion and degradation of the watershed and siltation of dams, rivers, streams and streamlets, which form their tributaries. Creating awareness and training of the critical communities including forest owners, surrounding the Sacred Forest, Community Forest, Clan Forest and Private Forest. Create an extensive data base of the community and their category of forest. Promotion of Eco- Health Tourism Promotion and Generation of Wind/Solar Energy as alternative to use of firewood, The proposal intends to cover 6 indigenous Sacred Forest, and a few Community & Village Forest, Clan Forest, and the large tracts of Private Forest existing under each Chief / Ruler, variously known as Syiem, Lyngdoh, Sirdar, Doloi, Wahadadar, and Nokma who are assisted in their administration by their functionaries also known as Syiem Raid, Lyngdoh Raid, Basan Raid, Myntri, Lyngskor, Sordar Raid, Sordar Shnong, Rangbah Shnong, in the State of Meghalaya, which are also Schedule Areas under the Constitution of India.
A majority of these forests especially the sacred forests are believed to be over 500 years old and can be described as natural treasure house of biodiversity. These ancient Sacred Forest are today standing in different parts of Meghalaya. They are till date undocumented. They are also renowned to be the best conserved Sacred Grove’s in the state, conserved through the ages by traditional beliefs, customs, religious rituals and a set of rules and regulations. Performance of rites and rituals are still being performed by Priests in these Sacred Forest Grove’s.
Bah John F Kharshiing, Chairman SPIKAP, informed the Dolloi that there is huge potential for attracting the latest Carbon Trade Market to Meghalaya, inview of the availability of the Sacred Forest and other categories of Forest cover, and for this there was an urgent need to document the history and to capacitate the administration of the Syiem, Sirdar, Lyngdoh, Basan, Dolloi, Nokma, and the Clan Elders who are the custodians of the many forest in Meghalaya so as to be eligible to attract such ‘Carbon Trade Markets’.
U Bah John F Kharshiing, Chairman, SPIKAP, informed that on receiving the information he held a series of meetings with officials of the Government of Meghalaya including officials of the Meghalaya Integrated Basin Development and Livelyhood Program (MIBDLP) including Forest officials.
The meeting of the elders in presence of Dolloi Elaka from Raliang, Jowai, Sutnga, and Shangpung, expressed their keenness to associate with SPIKAP and recalled that so far they had received assistance only from Bah Robert Kharshiing, former MP Rajya Sabha, who had provided a small grant from his MPLADS scheme few years ago. They assured Bah John F Kharshiing all help in creating this awareness with the communities in and around the various sacred and community forest in Jaintia Hills.
The meeting resolved to convene village meetings and awareness programs in association with SPIKAP for the preservation and for eco tourism promotion of the unique sacred forest of Jaintia Hills. They resolved and assured that they will compile the history of the sacred forest, including other community forest and send the information within two months to the office of SPIKAP.(SP News)
