By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 19: Meghalaya government was among the distinguished contributors to addressing the urgent need to combat land degradation, a growing crisis affecting seven of the nine planetary boundaries and threatening the Earth’s ability to support humanity — this was the dialogue of the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
The Government of Meghalaya along with Earthbanc AB showcased their groundbreaking initiatives in land restoration and sustainable livelihoods during the session titled ‘Scaling Sustainable Land Management for Global Impact,’ held from December 3 to 13.
The event concluded successfully in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Representing Meghalaya, Gunanka DB, IFS, Joint Secretary to the government, outlined the state’s innovative three-pronged approach to natural resource management. This approach prioritises community-driven initiatives, technological enablers for monitoring and innovation, and the flexibility to adapt solutions to specific challenges.
Meghalaya’s initiatives include programmes such as Payment for Ecosystem Services, the promotion of organic and natural farming, land reclamation using Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, degraded landscape restoration, water security enhancement, and the sustainable use of bamboo resources. These strategies have positioned the state as a leader in sustainable land management and climate resilience.
Regeneration Meghalaya
The Regeneration Meghalaya project, a collaborative effort between Earthbanc and the Meghalaya government, represents a transformative initiative aimed at restoring degraded landscapes while enhancing community livelihoods. Over the next 40 years, the project seeks to expand land cover and productivity, boost annual incomes for local communities, preserve vital habitats in this biodiversity hotspot, and sequester carbon through large-scale landscape restoration.
With its integrated approach to sustainable development and carbon sequestration, Regeneration Meghalaya aspires to become a global model for landscape restoration.
Meanwhile, Earthbanc, a global innovator in landscape restoration, showcased its advanced methodologies for making land restoration financially viable for investors and landowners. Leveraging geospatial data science and AI, Earthbanc monitors crucial indicators such as soil organic carbon, land cover, and productivity. Their Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) initiatives have set global benchmarks for land restoration and contributed to the development of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)-based carbon credits.
Key achievements at COP16 included the definition of regenerative agriculture and the launch of the Global Drought Resilience Partnership and Global Drought and Resilience Fund, both aimed at addressing land degradation on a global scale.
The contributions of Meghalaya and Earthbanc stood out as exemplary efforts, providing practical solutions to the complex challenges of land restoration.