The World Bank’s feature, “Restoring the Environment and Helping Communities in Meghalaya,” highlights the transformative impact of the Meghalaya Community-Led Landscape Management Project (MCLLMP), launched in 2018. This initiative, funded by a $48 million World Bank loan, aims to restore degraded landscapes, enhance biodiversity, and empower local communities in sustainable natural resource management.
Key Achievements:
Land Restoration: The project rehabilitated over 46,700 hectares of land, surpassing its initial target of 31,510 hectares. Efforts included afforestation, agroforestry, soil conservation, and innovative treatments for mining affected areas.
- Community Governance: Establishment of 400 Village Natural Resource Management Committees (VNRMCs) ensured localized planning and implementation. These committees, with mandated gender parity, oversaw critical interventions like spring rejuvenation and soil erosion control.
- Forest Management: Over 110,000 hectares were brought under Forest Management Plans (FMPs), including 15,444 hectares under Community Natural Resource Management Plans (CNRMPs), with the remainder under Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES).
- Biodiversity Conservation: The number of People’s Biodiversity Registers expanded from 15 to 310, and 3,000 springs were rejuvenated across the project villages.
- Livelihood Enhancement: By promoting sustainable agricultural practices and supporting community nurseries, the project created alternative income opportunities. The PES scheme incentivized conservation by rewarding communities for maintaining forest health.
- Empowering Women and Youth: Women constituted 52% of VNRMC members, and over 13,000 Village Community Facilitators (VCFs), many of them youth, were trained, creating a skilled workforce adept at sustainable resource management.
The World Bank regards MCLLMP as a replicable model for community-led natural resource management, recommending its adoption in other regions. The integration of GIS tools, community engagement, and landscape management practices has proven effective in achieving sustainable outcomes.
Source: World Bank
