Biodiversity nursery launched in EKH village to boost indigenous restoration and livelihoods

SHILLONG, July 17: The Dewlieh Biodiversity Nursery was officially launched at Dewlieh village in Khatarshnong Laitkroh, Sohra Subdivision, East Khasi Hills, on Thursday.
It may be mentioned that the biodiversity nursery is part of the ongoing LIC-HFL Special Project of NESFAS, which aims to scale out successful community-based livelihood initiatives through training, improving access to resources and creating market linkages with a special emphasis on youth, women and small marginal farmers.
Informing further, Community Consultant for Field Supervision and Facilitation, Shaiphar Dohling, mentioned that the nursery is being managed by the Dewlieh Primary Agroecology Cooperative Society.
Sharing that the initiative is a continuation of work undertaken with FAO and NESFAS on the biocentric restoration effort from 2021 to 2023, Shaiphar said, “We acquired some saplings from the forest and we have also done some stem cutting for generating more saplings. There are over 14 native plant and tree species and over 15,000 saplings in this nursery. The journey of collecting and taking care of the saplings started on June 21 this year, and I’m thankful to those whose cooperation made this possible so far.”
Dewlieh is a small community located in the lush valleys of Khatarshnong, which lies in a fragile ecological zone facing mounting pressure from land-use changes. The rapid expansion of broom grass cultivation and extractive livelihood activities has contributed to significant biodiversity loss in the area.
Since 2014, NESFAS has been working with the community to strengthen indigenous food systems and promote biodiversity. In 2021 and 2023, NESFAS, with support from FAO, undertook biocentric restoration efforts at Dewlieh, focusing on locally valued species such as Erythrina indica and Exbucklandia populnea, achieving a staggering 95 per cent survival rate after plantation.
This high success rate is attributed to the use of native plant species rather than fast-growing, non-native species. As such, the biodiversity nursery was launched under NESFAS’ LIC-HFL Special Project, thereby reflecting the outcomes of past restoration efforts and emerging ecological challenges.
The nursery is equipped with polybags and materials to construct low-cost infrastructure using locally available resources such as bamboo, straw and reclaimed wood. These efforts have kept costs low while remaining rooted in traditional practices.
Built on local knowledge, shared responsibility and ecological relevance, the nursery stands as a sustainable initiative. The use of locally available materials and community labour has helped reduce costs, while the integration of traditional practices is set to enhance local ownership and adaptability.
Guided by community elders, priority native species have been identified based on their ecological and cultural value, and community members have been assigned responsibilities for seed and sapling collection, with seasonal calendars developed for optimal harvesting periods.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Dewlieh Primary Agroecology Cooperative Society, Wos Dohling, expressed his pride in the launch and lauded the dedication and unity of the community.
“We believe this is just the beginning, and we are hopeful that, in the days to come, we will be able to distribute and sell the saplings to other parts of the community, helping promote local biodiversity and support sustainable livelihoods,” the Chairperson added.
As Wos mentioned, the nursery also promises to generate livelihood opportunities, particularly for women and young people who take the lead in seed collection, nursery management and transplanting. Scaling the initiative and selling saplings to other communities also remain key areas for revenue generation. Additionally, the nursery serves as a vibrant learning space where community members exchange practices related to seed selection, composting, and natural pest control using indigenous methods.
In the future, the Dewlieh community envisions expanding the nursery to include medicinal and wild edible plants, linking conservation with nutrition and health security for future generations. For now, Dewlieh’s community nursery model offers a replicable pathway for biodiversity-based, community-driven landscape restoration across other Indigenous communities in Meghalaya.
Meanwhile, an LIC-HFL official commended both the community and NESFAS for the initiative, while Pretty Mary Dohling, a member of the cooperative society, expressed her gratitude towards NESFAS for their efforts in helping launch the nursery.
Others who attended the launch event include members of the Dewlieh Primary Agroecology Cooperative Society, NESFAS team and CSR Regional Lead North East (NE) from LIC-HFL, Abhinav Das.