By HH. Mohrmen
This is the first time in my life that I did not plant any tree, nor did I take part in any World Environment Day (WED) celebration. It could be a coincidence, but at the same time, it is what was meant to be. There is a reason for me not planting any tree or not taking part in any WED celebration, and the first reason is that the majority of the plants planted fail to survive. People talk about environmental protection only during the celebration, and the moment they leave the gathering, they indulge in habits that are detrimental to the environment. I realized that there is no point in celebrating the day if our behavior or actions throughout the year are not aligned.
Failed Government Efforts to Protect the Environment
The Government has been engaged in tree plantation programs for decades. It would be interesting to know how many different tree plantation programs have been implemented in the state over the years. A study to determine the total area covered under these programs at various points in time would be valuable.
The state of Meghalaya has spent crores of rupees of public money on regenerating land by planting trees or afforesting barren land. However, the question remains: how much of this effort has truly borne fruit? Various government departments, such as the different branches of Forestry, Social Forestry, Wildlife, Soil Conservation, and, more recently, the Meghalaya Basin Development Agency, have implemented projects to this effect. The Government organizes tree plantations during World Environment Day every year. Trees were also planted by various village employment committees under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Unfortunately, most of these efforts have failed due to several reasons. Everybody, including government officials, agree that the survival rate of planted trees in the state is very negligible.
Ignoring Local ITK
Government interventions in tree plantation projects often fail because of a top-down approach, which excludes local indigenous traditional knowledge. All government projects are planned by officials of implementing agencies, without consulting local communities who have intimate knowledge of the land. Ignoring local communities is a significant reason for the failure of government tree plantation programs. Local people have invaluable knowledge about the land, soil types, topography, and traditional practices handed down through generations.
Complex Land Tenure System
Another major challenge in implementing any forest regeneration or tree plantation program in the state is the land ownership system. Most land in Meghalaya is privately owned by individuals, clans, or communities. Unlike other states where land belongs to the government, land ownership in Meghalaya leaves the government with limited power to implement projects. This makes community participation crucial for the success of such programs.
The diversity in land ownership across the state adds another layer of complexity. In some areas, the majority of land is community-owned, while in others, clans or individuals own most of the land. For instance, in Garo Hills, much of the land is managed and controlled by the Nokmas. In the Amlarem and War areas, land is primarily owned by clans, with very little community land remaining. On the Jaintia Hills plateau, where community land ownership was once the norm, only a few villages still have community lands, and these are gradually shrinking as the community uses them to provide housing plots for new families or for other purposes.
The failure to understand the diverse landholding systems in the districts is another reason for the failure of various tree plantation programs. Implementing agencies often take the easy route, engaging only with community lands through village headmen, rather than reaching out to clans or individual landowners. Reaching out to the different stakeholders is one thing, and properly engaging with them is another.
Change of Land Use
The conversion of community lands into private lands further complicates matters. Community lands often become private when allotted to individuals for residential purposes. Over time, as households in villages increase, community lands shrink.
Another issue hampering tree plantation programs is the lack of regulation on land use. Private and public lands can easily be converted for purposes such as mining and stone quarrying, as there are no rules to control such activities. Landowners or even community lands are being used for sand mining and stone quarrying, even at the sources of drinking water.
In East Jaintia Hills, for example, community or clan lands with coal deposits have been converted to private ownership. There are cases where even community forests have been sold for mining purposes in this district.
The absence of rules in District Councils to regulate land use and ownership patterns exacerbates the problem. For instance, land designated for rice cultivation or forest use can easily be converted for other purposes, like LHC (Land Holding Certificates). Similarly, lands that serve as catchment areas for different rivers and their sources are converted to LHC. When land is changed to LHC, even catchment areas can then be used for the construction of houses and other purposes. This is how houses started to come up on the banks of the river because there is no regulation.
Local Governing System
The traditional local governing system is also to be blamed for the failure of many government projects. Frequent changes in village leadership also undermine tree plantation projects. Village headmen serve limited terms, and each headman’s interests and priorities vary. This lack of continuity often disrupts ongoing projects. There is no free lunch in the world, so goes the saying. Another significant challenge is the pro bono nature of the headman’s role, which sometimes leads to personal preferences taking precedence over community responsibilities, further affecting project outcomes.
Animal Grazing and Cow Herders
Grazing is a major challenge for any tree plantation program in the state. It is the main cause of the failure of tree plantation programs. There is no tradition of dairy farming in the area, and milk was never part of the tradition in these hills. Generally, the animals that people rear are cattle, goats, and sheep in some areas, and these are kept for meat and farming purposes. These animals, led by the cow herders, feed on grasses in open spaces and, when left unattended, feed on the saplings that were planted.
Innovative solutions for addressing grazing issues are the immediate need of the hour to ensure that the trees that were planted grow. New approaches, such as partnering with the cow herders to help protect the saplings, are the need of the hour. Partnership with cow herders, including providing them with skills related to conservation and rewarding them for helping in the protection of the trees, is one such example. The cows need to be fed no matter what, so alternative grazing land is also another idea to ensure that the trees are protected. Good fodder grass can also be introduced in the land allotted for animal grazing.
Forest Fire: The Major Cause of Deforestation
The reason for people starting fires, according to oral narratives, is to ensure that the grasses produce sap quickly, which the herders feed to their animals. There is, however, no scientific evidence to support that claim, but forest fires during the dry season are also started for no reason at all. Although fire lines are made by planters to control forest fires, the success rate is obviously very low. Forest fires during the lean season are the major destroyers of forests. They destroy not only newly planted trees, but even long-standing forests.
The solution to stop forest fires rests with the authorities—both the State Government and the Autonomous District Councils. In the context of Meghalaya, much of the forest is under the purview of the ADCs; hence, the Councils have a very important role in ensuring that forest fires are stopped. The Councils can introduce legislation to ban forest fires and reward local communities that prevent forest fires in their areas.
Bio-fencing
Fencing plantations is expensive, but traditional practices can offer alternatives. For example, broom grass and bamboo, which have traditionally been planted around gardens for protection, can be used to fence plantation areas. Alternatively, even banana plantations can be introduced as bio-fencing. In fact, banana plants endemic to the region can be a good bio-fencing alternative because banana trees themselves hold so much water, which can help in fighting forest fires.
Conclusion
The lack of stakeholder engagement in planning and implementing projects, the absence of political will to enforce existing rules to protect catchment areas, control forest fires, and regulate grazing affects efforts to protect forests in the state are hurdles in afforestation. No tree plantation program in the state will succeed without community participation and political will to enforce existing rules and regulate new ones. The need of the hour for the Government is to protect the existing forests and the planted trees, rather than engaging in ceremonial tree plantation programs.