TURA, Nov 17: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday distributed cheques for the Payment of Ecosystem Services (PES) to select individuals and communities in Garo Hills, during a programme at the District Auditorium in Tura.
It may be mentioned that Green Meghalaya — ‘Grassroots-level Response towards Ecosystem Enhancement and Nurturing’ — aims to build the capacities of communities to manage natural resources productively and effectively through training, exposure, learning from best practices, innovations and traditional knowledge.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that the rural community has been the custodians of natural resources for generations and informed that the government has earmarked Rs 50 crore under Green Meghalaya scheme for the current financial year, offering financial incentives for conservation of forests and its natural resources.
Stating that the effects and consequences of climate change and global warming can be seen everywhere and that the forest cover in the region is also decreasing rapidly, he said that the government is trying to restore the green cover by launching several programmes such as afforestation, multi-purpose reservoir, springshed rejuvenation, cleaning drives, etc., to restore and rehabilitate the lost biodiversity and ecosystem.
Pointing out that people mainly depend on forest products, the chief minister said that Meghalaya has 76 per cent forest cover out of which 94 per cent is owned by communities and individuals, and only six per cent reserved and protected forest is under the direct control of the Forest department.
In order to provide financial assistance and livelihood opportunities to the people for protecting and maintaining the forest, he informed that the state government has initiated Green Meghalaya, which provides monetary assistance to the communities for conservation of forest resources.
He also expressed hope that it would also create awareness and motivate others to value natural resources with sustainable management practices to be passed on to next generation.
According to the chief minister, the scheme is being co-funded by the World Bank through Community-Led Landscape Management Program, and forest owners with a minimum of five hectares of natural forest will be given financial support for a period of five years based on the size of their forest landholding.
