SHILLONG: North East is regarded as a biodiversity hotspot and is home to an abundance of flora and fauna. In Meghalaya alone, rare species of flora and fauna as well as living root bridges, regarded as the pride of the State, are found weaving a unique traditional knowledge since time immemorial.
When asked whether root bridges are facing threats, an official source from the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board told The Shillong Times that the onus of preserving the age-old tradition and heritage is on the local communities, although their existence is not under serious threat.
“There are chances that the root bridges could be under threat due to overuse and unregulated footfall. While in some villages people are not doing enough to promote root bridges, in others like Nongriat and Mawlynnong there has been vigorous promotion,” the official said.
Apart from root bridges, there is an urgent call to preserve the rich biodiversity of the State by local communities. In this connection the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board was formed in 2010 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, with the objective to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable use of its components and equitable sharing of benefits.
As per the provision of the Act, the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) has been constituted.
The official said, “So far 115 BMCs have been constituted at the village level to regulate/restrict access to bio resources and for outsiders to seek their permission to have access to the local bio resources.”
The source said, “If the communities feel there is a threat to the rare flora and fauna, they can declare the place as Bio-heritage site. It will get a legal status whereas the ownership will remain unchanged.”
The BMCs maintain a documentation of local biodiversity in the People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) which is a document to record the existing biodiversity in an area and how its components are being used and traditional knowledge associated with it.
The official informed that PBR is prepared to prevent bio-piracy. “Nobody should take bio-resources from the State and make a commercial benefit from it. PBR is a document which will establish the people’s claim over bio-resources or traditional knowledge.”
“Bio resources specific to Meghalaya are recorded in the PBR, for instance the Lakadong turmeric, living root bridges, some local medicinal plants and other items are included in the PBR to prevent other people from claiming them as their bio resources in the future,” the official said.
Stating that awareness programmes are the need of the hour to preserve the rich flora and fauna, the official said, “The BMCs are expected to play a role in curbing bio-piracy and promoting conservation.”
Referring to the award in the category of ‘Sustainable use of Bio resources’ received by the Seng Treilang Association from Mawkyrnot for protecting and promoting root bridges, the official said, “This is a very good recognition at the national level.”
When asked whether climate change has an impact on biodiversity, the official said, “There is a shift of some species due to climate change since temperature is increasing over the years in some areas.”
The general perception is that there is a need to develop living root bridge based eco-tourism projects for improving the livelihoods of the people.
