Keeling Curve

Primary Project Category:

Project Summary / Description:

Meghalaya is rich in minerals, water bodies & biodiversity. However, deforestation, traditional jhum (slash & burn) cultivation affected hydrological parameters (geogenic factors) viz. rainfall interception, infiltration, water yield. Direct N2O missions due to anthropogenic factors like unsustainable agricultural practices, mining affected environmental quality causing nutrient eutrophication in water bodies. Capacity Building of communities & indigenous empowerment was poor due to low capabilities, inadequate alternate livelihoods, weak institutional-funding-political mechanisms. 
Inception in 2012, project was formed through participatory mission mode, involving all the stakeholders dependent on natural resources for their livelihood & also the officials, professionals, experts, activists and agencies.

Regions of Operations:

How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

Our strategy focuses on ensuring that natural ecosystems are worth more alive than dead. Deforestation rates have climbed in recent years with short-term economic interests outweighing the long-term value of forests. Our work aims to replace an extractive economy with a regenerative one through innovation, collaboration and by partnering with Indigenous peoples and local communities. We are developing methods to increase the return on investment in tropical reforestation, making it more attractive for governments and private investors. Since inception have been supporting local and Indigenous communities to protect forests on their lands.

Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

Meghalaya endowed with unique status under Constitution of India under 6th schedule where administration of land, water resources is within local community (indigenous population, tribals and grass-root stakeholders) are secured ownership right due to empowering role of communities. 
An enterprise approach is promoted through key inputs by IWF to support diversification of livelihood opportunities while providing a strong incentive to communities for long term environmental conservation. For instance, community-led nurseries conceptualized social enterprise where economically viable species like cane and bamboo commercially traded to earn good returns. Entrepreneurship Facilitation Centers (EFC) were formed in all the blocks of the state across the eleven mission & varied sectors. These single window agencies along with partner institutions endeavored to link community members to sustained motivation, skill development, enterprise incubation, financial assistance, supply chain linkage schemes under various government departments. Investment opportunities, for instance, Tourism mission had laid focus on promoting ecological hotspots as tourist destinations, generating additional revenues, promoting traditional arts and culture of the state and facilitate local market interventions for products. This kind of intervention is a boon for Meghalaya to widen its investments horizon and reversed migration around 40-50%. 
IWF focused on Competence & Capacity building for women, Capacity Building and Awareness Programme through skilling, regular training, entailed adoption of promoting women support Eco-friendly activities in a predominant matrilineal society of Meghalaya. At the conceptualizing and planning stage, gender related data and multi-level dis-aggregation was formed on gender components. IWF sensitized women on official programmes, policies bringing awareness and develop pro-active attitude of participation. Women are engaged in agribusiness through self-help groups formed to diversify activities. Building ‚ Model Silk Village‚ through Sericulture mission or Women Economic Empowerment Scheme‚ promoting market linkages enhance self-employment prospects, earn good economic returns. Social Impact Assessments (SIA) of development projects with women being an important participant is carried on thematic areas of natural resource management to understand sustainability put forth a more informed voice for women. 
Women engaging in Jhum (slash & burn) cultivation areas or where perennial water sources are not available are especially targeted with Jalkunds (multi-purpose reservoirs) to facilitate their conversion to settled cultivation and providing single water source, help them reap good agricultural harvest during the lean months. They build resilient infrastructures like bamboo houses to combat negative impacts of water-related disasters Creating Green/Water Ambassadors for water management or bringing closer to their own produce, women seized ownership rights, equal livelihood opportunity alongside men(SDG goal 5).

Sub-Categories: