A capacity-building workshop titled, “Learning from the Land: Participatory Knowledge Harvest from Assam and Meghalaya” was conducted at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati Off-Campus yesterday
The workshop brought together NGOs of Assam and Meghalaya who have partnered with UNDP-SGP to share grassroots knowledge and resources on sustainable land use and agroecological practices.
Organized by TISS, the workshop aimed to foster local knowledge exchange and promote community-driven solutions for environmental sustainability and agro-biodiversity conservation in the region.
This initiative aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of more than 50 NGO participants in empowering local communities in the areas of sustainability and livelihoods, working under five broad areas: biodiversity conservation, land degradation, rural development, sustainability, and climate change.
The workshop brought together resource persons and partners from diverse fields to engage in knowledge sharing and skill development.
During the breakout sessions, participating NGOs shared community-led practices and innovations in biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and land restoration, ranging from the revival of seed banks and sacred groves to climate-resilient farming and inclusive afforestation initiatives.
The stories highlighted the critical roles of women, elders, and youth in safeguarding ecosystems. However, several systemic challenges were underscored, including lack of recognition, limited resources, and gaps in coordination, particularly in scaling effective models.
The discussions emphasised the need for sustained support through policy reforms, funding, and partnerships.
Campus Director Prof. Jagannath Ambagudia, Dr. Purnima Devi Barman, Hargila Baideu, a wildlife biologist from Assam, Dr. Naba Kumar Goswami, Senior Fellow and Regional Coordinator TERI North East Centre, Amba Jamir, Policy Analyst and Development Strategist, Prof. Sudip Mitra, Founding head, School of Agro and Rural Technology (SART), IIT-Guwahati, Dr. Rahul Mahanta, Associate Professor, Cotton University, Tithal Parmar, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Specialist, UNICEF India and others spoke during the workshop.
