Supporting Khasi communities to regenerate their forest
The Khasi Hills in the Indian ecoregion of Meghalaya are known as the wettest place on earth, as well as for their unique biodiversity.
The villagers are Khasi tribes who have asked WeForest to help them restore their forests. Training, alternative sources of fuel and new farming techniques are key if we want to stop further forest degradation.
WeForest is also distributing fuel-efficient cookers to further improve forest and family health.
The state of Meghalaya, northeast India, is a global biodiversity hotspot and one of the wettest places on earth. Mining, forest fires, fuelwood consumption and agriculture has degraded much of the cloud forest in Meghalaya’s Khasi Hills.
The Khasi people are traditionally a forest-dependent community, using the native cloud forest for shelter, firewood, medicine, food and spiritual traditions.
However, the area and the communities are now at risk as the forest is being cleared by charcoal production, stone quarrying and animal grazing.
Used assisted natural regeneration and enrichment planting, we are restoring 3150 ha of degraded land in the east and north Khasi Hills alongside 59 Khasi villages. Communities play a key role managing the nurseries, carrying out maintenance and protecting restored areas from grazing.
The project supports self-help groups and farmer’s clubs to develop forest-friendly livelihoods such as mushroom production and raising pigs. In this way, the project empowers Khasi communities to tackle poverty and unsustainable forest exploitation and to take ownership of restoring their landscapes.
East and North Khasi Hills, Meghalaya state
Assisted Natural Regeneration; enrichment planting
Ka Synjuk Ki Hima Arliang Wah Umiam Mawphlang Welfare Society
Include A. nepalensis, C. indica, E. populnea, M. esculenta, P. kesiya, P. nepalensis, S. khasiana
59 villages in 12 Hima (municipalities)
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