Shillong, April 27: The Centre has launched a five-year biodiversity conservation programme in the Garo Hills region of Meghalaya, focusing on community participation and local decision-making in environmental protection.
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| Dense tropical forest inside Siju Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills, one of the key biodiversity sites under the Centre’s new conservation programme. (File Photo) |
The initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Authority. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Development Programme, with financial support exceeding ₹40 crore. Tamil Nadu has also been selected for similar implementation.
Officials said the programme will focus on major biodiversity sites such as the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, Balpakram National Park and Siju Wildlife Sanctuary, where forest areas overlap with lands traditionally managed by local communities.
Unlike many other conservation initiatives, the Meghalaya programme will rely heavily on traditional local institutions. Village Employment Councils will be involved in planning and decision-making, linking biodiversity conservation with local development efforts.
The project will also strengthen Biodiversity Management Committees and create collaborative platforms where government agencies, community leaders and civil society organisations can jointly design and implement conservation strategies.
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Livelihood generation forms a key component of the programme. Authorities plan to promote eco-friendly enterprises, introduce benefit-sharing mechanisms and encourage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding to help communities earn income through conservation-linked activities.
Officials added that the initiative will ensure wider participation by including women, indigenous communities and other underrepresented groups in biodiversity-related decision-making.
The programme aligns with India’s long-term biodiversity goals and international climate commitments, while also documenting best practices that could be replicated in other regions of the country.
