A two-day participatory workshop on the project “Implementation of the Indigenous Peoples’ Biocentric Restoration in Meghalaya” concluded at Ladmawphlang today.
The workshop was facilitated by NESFAS with an objective to restore degraded land through the recovery of indigenous peoples’ ancestral knowledge, territorial management and values and relations with the territory. The activities look to restore the territory, considering all the species and living things that have inhabited it, not only those that have a function for human beings, to guarantee the protection and respect of Mother Earth.
Such project is active in four countries, Ecuador, India, Peru and Thailand. It also aims to identify degraded areas so that immediate steps of intervention can be taken and eventually hopes to see the mindset change among the communities about the importance of restoration of ecosystems. As one of the outcomes, the project also aims to establish “School of Life” which consists of a movement and a space to share knowledge between elders and youth, while walking the territory.
NESFAS executive director Puis Ranee said that more than 25 per cent of the world’s degraded land is unfortunately not recovering as it used to. He said the project will address and take steps to restore fallow lands and forest areas in the five communities (Dewlieh, Nongwah, Umsawwar, Ladmawphlang and Nongtraw) selected for the initiative.
Dr. Dhrupad Choudhury, Senior Consultant for Research, Innovation for Climate Change & Training noted, “Changes (climate change) have come about so fast. Conservation of nature comes from the community. We, as an organisation, are here to support the work that the community is already doing. We just want to aid in ensuring sustainability – and provide for the future generations”.
A NESFAS statement today said ideas were put forth at the participative workshop- the use of bioinoculants, traditional forms of mulching, vermicomposting, youth involvement, etc and the community members discussed, at length, their agreeability and the areas that they disagree with or foresee many challenges.
The workshop was a platform for the community executives to clarify all their perspectives and also air out their concerns, giving way to the successful and gainful execution of the project.
