Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Scheme was launched for East Khasi Hills district by Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo today.
The launch programme was organised by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner in collaboration with the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) and District Project Management Unit (DPMU), East Khasi Hills.
Stating that Meghalaya being a Sixth Schedule state where major parts of forest cover belong to the communities, Laloo emphasises that through the scheme, villages and communities can be strengthened and empowered in order to maintain and conserve their forests.
Highlighting the objectives of PES, which will be implemented under the Community Led Landscape Management Project (CLLMP) she said it is aimed at providing financial support to the villages, communities, clans and individuals willing to conserve existing natural forests for a period of 30 years in order to counter the losses due to conservation measures.
She also sought the cooperation of all concerned for successful implementation of the scheme in the district.
Payments for ecosystem services (PES), also known as payments for environmental services (or benefits) scheme provides benefits through financial support of Rs. 8000 per hectare per year for five years. In addition, an additional reward amount of Rs. 5000 per hectare per year will also be given to those natural forests already registered as community reserve with the Forest Department and an amount of Rs 2000 per hectare per year will be given to those with a very dense forests or traditionally recognized as sacred grove or has a living root bridge or located in eco-sensitive zones around protected areas like national parks, wildlife sanctuary or wildlife corridors.
If the forests are not yet registered, the applicant may apply for registration with the forest department and a copy of receipt may be submitted while applying for the scheme.
