The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) will soon have an in-situ inventory of its forest products by aerial or cadastral survey maps to show its area as well as item inventory in its forest including sacred groves.
This was informed by KHADC CEM, Titosstarwell Chyne at a workshop, “Universalising Community-led Natural Resource Management in Meghalaya for enhancing ecosystem services and resilience to climate change” held today.
Chyne said the district council plans to come up with a participatory-based management plan for the forest under its control, which will reflect robust community involvement in both replenishment and felling in accordance with agreed norms.
Stating that the KHADC recognises the need for introduction of extension services in the rejuvenation of secondary forests in fallow and the involvement of communities, Chyne said awareness will also be generated of the income from non-timber forest produces and ecological service.
He also underlined the need for capacity building and institution-building strategy, a working synergy between community and the KHADC forest staff as well as training in mapping, survey and monitoring through satellite imaging. Chyne said, this will be a cutting edge technology for the plan formulation.
To mitigate climate change, the KHADC CEM said there is a need to protect catchment areas and conserve, protect and promote sacred groves and other village and community forests. He said the strategy of the district council is to capacitate and empower the concerned communities and create awareness and at the same time create new village or community forest and sacred groves with the village, elaka or clan.
He further stressed on the need for the KHADC to empower its forest administration in expertise, financial and legal framework.
