Community driven Forest landscape restoration in the East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India

Victoria GutierrezAWPF 26th February 2016, Clark, Philippines

To restore degraded forest landscapes back to healthy and

productive ecosystems that work for both people and the

environment

China

BhutanNepal

Bangladesh

Meghalaya Burma

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Project area ~ 27,000 ha

Along Umiam river watershed, Elevation 150-1961 m Subtropical mixed cloud forestAnnual precipitation up to 11.8 m

High biodiversity

Communities use non-timber forest products from 137 plant

speciesCFI. 2012. Socio-economic baseline survey for Khasi Hills Community REDD Project area. CFI, CA, USA.

Sacred forests, cultural heritage and islands of biodiversity

Umiam Watershed in the East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, Northeast India

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Fast deforestation and forest degradation -

forest loss of 4% per year

39% of forest lands in project site are degraded

Drivers of deforestation:

Privatisation of community forests often result in clearance for agriculture

Uncontrolled fires

Population growth

Commercial markets are placing pressure on forests for timber, limestone, coal and other minerals

East Khasi Hills people• Indigenous governments (Himas) & democratic

village councils (Dorbars)• Forests under the stewardship of the Himas and

managed by Dorbar• Project involves ~ 5,000 households (~30,000 forest

dependent people), 90% of households live below poverty line

In 2011 REDD Project initiated on the request of local communities to slow down and halt the loss of forestsIn 2013 Plan Vivo carbon certificationIn 2014 WeForest formed partnership with MawphlangWelfare Society (The Federation)

62 Youth volunteers13 Community facilitators18 Lower working committees

meet 4 times yr to represent their villages at council meetings

Project Goals

• Restore the natural forest cover and protect the Umiam Watershed (500 -1000 ha/yr)

• Enhance socio-economic conditions of lowest-income families by assisting the development of micro-finance groups and entrepreneurial initiatives, with particular emphasis on women

• Monitor and improve the hydrological function of the Umiam watershed implementing soil conservation measures

Assisted natural regeneration, Low density enrichment planting, transplanting and coppice regeneration social fencing to improve forest structure and composition

Youth volunteers monitor

over 47 permanent plots to document forest growth

Base line data• Mapping of the Block

• Tree Species (present)

• Tree species taken up for monitoring

• Identify area for enrichment planting in May- June, 2015

• Select/set-up area for laying permanent ( 20m x 20m) plots

• Set up permanent photo spot for time series

• Tree species planted & existing

Self-help group members are trained in accounting, book keeping and microfinance before given grants that initiate a revolving fund system

68 Microfinance groups receiving

grants for small enterprise development ($50 to $100)

705 individuals

76% women

77 Home-based nurseries

Tree nursery training

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Training in sustainable farming

Training in animal husbandry

Socio-economic indicators: 1. Annual increase in capital assets of total balance

of group (target increase 5%)2. Cash sale from NTFP livelihood activities3. Training and capacity building sessions with

youth clubs4. People’s perceptions of impact (household survey

& interviews)

56 Villages - Micro-Projects (drinking water ponds, community forests boundary pillars, forest fencing, etc) Range $300 to $50014 Contracts with micro-watershed management committees

Tree adoption programme to involve schools in tree planting and care

Challenges and opportunities:Scaling-up process –revisiting capacity and scaleDevelop NTFP products & markets for financial sustainabilityBuild technical capacity for forest and water monitoringIntegrate research to study forest-water

Download policy brief: www.weforest.org

Forest-Water ResearchTo what extent can reforestation in this region increase dry season flow? Under what conditions?What is the impact on soil hydraulic properties affecting groundwater recharge?

Thank youVictoria.Gutierrez@weforest.org

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