Funder: The Nature Conservancy
Duration: May 2023 – December 2026
The Northeast region of India harbours a substantial share of the country’s carbon stocks and forest cover, yet it continues to experience deforestation and biodiversity loss. In response, Scheduled Tribe communities in Meghalaya and Nagaland have undertaken voluntary conservation efforts to safeguard ecosystem services and cultural heritage. However, these initiatives are often constrained by limited resources and inadequate funding.
Between 2022 and 2024, NESFAS, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board (MBB), supported the upgradation of 141 People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) to enhance community-led biodiversity management. Alongside this, 71 People’s Perspective Landscape Management Plans (PPLMPs) were developed to guide conservation and natural resource governance in the villages where PBRs had been strengthened.
Building on earlier collaborations with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board, this project scaled up documentation and community-led management of biodiversity in 210 villages. The initiative is strengthening the PBRs and developing the PPLMPs to guide conservation and restoration. Additionally, the project is also piloting the sustainable inclusion of wild edibles in school meals and Mei-Ramew Cafés, strengthening links between biodiversity conservation, nutrition, and livelihoods.