TURA: A Consultative Meeting on ‘Sustainable Management of Community Forests & Biodiversity Conservation for Livelihood Improvement Project’ with Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Team was held recently at the DRDA Conference Hall in Tura.
The consultative meet was organised by the State Project Management Unit of MBDA in collaboration with District Administration West Garo Hills and had representation from departments like Soil & Water Conservation, Forests & Environment, Textiles, Water Resources, Agri-Horticulture, AH & Veterinary, GHADC, Fisheries, IBDLP and allied livelihood promotion agencies.
Delivering the opening note during the meet, Ram Singh, Chairman IBDLP & Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills gave an overview on the ongoing practices and scenario in the region about water and soil conservation, forest management and livelihood dependence on forests biodiversity. He also briefed the JICA Team on the various departmental activities trying to address the issue of livelihood through management of soil, water and forest resources.
Dr Hiromi Yamauchi, Team Leader and Forest Management, JICA gave a brief presentation to the stakeholder on the objective of the visit to the district and expectation from the interaction with various stakeholders. She mentioned that JICA Team’s visit to district was to understand the conditions and challenges by local communities’ livelihood, forest management and soil & water conservation practices; observe the sites of forest management by communities and individual and to study the conditions and capacity of the organisation related to GIS and MIS in terms of facility and human resources.
Chief Forest Officer, GHADC Rangku N Sangma, gave a brief outline and presentation on the activities of District Autonomous Council in respect to forest management and community involvement in securing and managing biodiversity; secure catchments areas and enhance livelihood of people through the development and sustainable use of forest resources.
Among the others who spoke during the consultative meeting were Sachin Gavade, DFO (Territorial Division), Tura; Taddeus R Marak, EE Water Resources, Merril N Sangma, District Horticulture Officer; Corbett Sangma, AS&WCO, S & W (T) Tura; Daniel J Ingty, Regional Director, MBDA Western Zone Tura, V Valentine, DPM IBDLP Tura and Brilliar Sangma, DPM IBDLP Ampati.
During the three day visit to the region, JICA study team visited Sakal Aduma-Sasatgre and Chandigre in Rongram and Sadolpara village in Dadenggre block to understand the community reserve forests, JFMCs and livelihood dependence on the forest biodiversity. The JICA representative also visited Chibonggre village in Dadenggre C & RD Block and interacted with community to understand and study the community’s knowledge on using of GPS and GIS for village planning purposes. The study team also had series of interactive session with allied departments and block officials to understand sustainable management of community forests & biodiversity conservation for livelihoods.
The team also visited community owned nurseries, forest reserves under District Council and community reserved forests.