Shillong, Jan 30: Policymakers, practitioners, researchers, development partners, private sector representatives, youth, and community leaders from across the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) and the wider Hindu Kush Himalaya region have gathered in Shillong to attend the two-day international conference titled ‘Scaling Nature-based Solutions for Himalayan Resilience’.
The conference is being jointly organised by the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
The event aims to advance Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as a central strategy for strengthening climate resilience and promoting sustainable development across mountain ecosystems.
The Indian Himalayan Region is among the most climate-vulnerable areas globally, facing increasing risks from erratic rainfall, extreme weather events, ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss, floods, and landslides. These challenges threaten water security, food systems, livelihoods, and human settlements, underscoring the need for integrated, landscape-level responses that enhance both ecological integrity and community well-being.
Nature-based Solutions are increasingly recognised worldwide as an effective framework for addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development through ecological approaches. Across the Himalayan region, NbS interventions such as springshed management, watershed restoration, agroforestry, and community-led conservation are already demonstrating measurable impacts.
However, many efforts remain fragmented and project-driven, with limited policy integration and financing support. The conference is designed to address these gaps by focusing on NbS design principles and enabling conditions including governance, finance, institutions, technology, and partnerships.
Meghalaya’s integrated institutional model for natural resource and landscape management, led by MBDA, is being highlighted as a strong example of scalable NbS implementation. Flagship programmes such as the MegARISE project demonstrate coordinated approaches involving afforestation, soil and water conservation, springshed revival, agroforestry, Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), sustainable livelihoods, participatory finance, and GIS-based planning systems. At the regional level, ICIMOD is contributing its extensive experience in science-based, inclusive, and partnership-driven NbS approaches through initiatives such as the Himalayan Resilience Enabling Action Programme (HI-REAP).
Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed in his inaugural address underscored the importance of nature-based and community-led conservation efforts in Meghalaya, noting that environmental stewardship in the state is deeply rooted in traditional practices and local governance systems. He highlighted that Meghalaya is among the greenest states in the country, with the majority of forest areas under community management, including sacred forests and community-protected fish sanctuaries that support biodiversity and livelihoods.
He drew attention to traditional innovations such as the living root bridges and bioengineered structures created by weaving tree roots across streams describing them as powerful symbols of intergenerational ecological responsibility. He emphasized that conservation efforts must focus on securing resources for future generations.
Despite high rainfall, he noted that the state faces seasonal water stress due to terrain and runoff patterns, with significant water outflow downstream. He referenced climate vulnerability assessments indicating rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and district-level risks. In response, the state has introduced integrated policies and programmes covering water resource management, electric mobility, organic farming, and forest protection.
He also highlighted key achievements including large-scale mapping of streams and springs, revival of critical springsheds, expansion of ecosystem and forest protection measures, strengthening of community cooperatives, and livelihood support through community-based natural resource management programmes supported by national and international partners.
During the inaugural session, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Meghalaya and Nepal to promote cooperation and knowledge exchange on Nature-based Solutions and mountain resilience.
In addition, PRIME (Promotion and Incubation of Market-driven Enterprises) stalls were set up at the venue, showcasing local enterprises and community-based products linked to sustainable livelihoods.
By convening stakeholders across policy, science, finance, and communities, the conference seeks to build a shared, action-oriented agenda for scaling Nature-based Solutions and enhancing long-term resilience across Himalayan landscapes.
