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

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1 Community driven Forest landscape restoration in the East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India Victoria Gutierrez AWPF 26 th February 2016, Clark, Philippines

2 To restore degraded forest landscapes back to healthy and productive ecosystems that work for both people and the environment

3 China Nepal Bhutan Bangladesh Meghalaya Burma Project area ~ 27,000 ha 2

4 Along Umiam river watershed, Elevation m Subtropical mixed cloud forest Annual precipitation up to 11.8 m

5 High biodiversity Communities use non-timber forest products from 137 plant species CFI Socio-economic baseline survey for Khasi Hills Community REDD Project area. CFI, CA, USA.

6 Sacred forests, cultural heritage and islands of biodiversity

7 Umiam Watershed in the East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, Northeast India Fast deforestation and forest degradation - forest loss of 4% per year 39% of forest lands in project site are degrade Drivers of deforestation: Privatisation of community forests often result in clearance for agriculture Uncontrolled fires Population growth 3

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

9 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

10 In 2011 REDD Project initiated on the request of local communities to slow down and halt the loss of forests In 2013 Plan Vivo carbon certification In 2014 WeForest formed partnership with Mawphlang Welfare Society (The Federation)

11 13 Community facilitators 18 Lower working committees meet 4 times yr to represent their 62 Youth volunteers

12 Project Goals Restore the natural forest cover and protect the Umiam Watershed ( ha/yr) Enhance socio-economic conditions of lowestincome 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

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

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17 Youth volunteers monitor over 47 permanent plots to document forest growth

18 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

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

20 68 Microfinance groups receiving grants for small enterprise development ($50 to $100) 705 individuals 76% women

21 77 Home-based nurseries

22 Tree nursery training

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24 Training in sustainable farming 14

25 Training in animal husbandry

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28 Socio-economic indicators: 1. Annual increase in capital assets of total balance of group (target increase 5%) 2. Cash sale from NTFP livelihood activities 3. Training and capacity building sessions with youth clubs 4. People s perceptions of impact (household survey & interviews)

29 56 Villages - Micro-Projects (drinking water ponds, community forests boundary pillars, forest fencing, etc) Range $300 to $ Contracts with micro-watershed management committees

30 Tree adoption programme to involve schools in tree planting and care

31 Challenges and opportunities: Scaling-up process revisiting capacity and scale Develop NTFP products & markets for financial sustainability Build technical capacity for forest and water monitoring Integrate research to study forest-water

32 Download policy brief:

33 Forest-Water Research To 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?

34 Thank you 5