SHILLONG, June 17: The Council of Nokmas, an apex body of traditional leaders in the Garo Hills, has entered into a long-term cooperative agreement with the Futuring Heritage research consortium to document challenges related to land management, environmental conservation and cultural heritage.
According to a statement here, the agreement was signed on Monday at the Nokma Council headquarters in Tura by chairman Wenison Marak and Dr. Erik de Maaker, principal investigator of the Futuring Heritage project.
The partnership aims to create a comprehensive inventory of the issues faced by over 1,500 Nokmas—the traditional custodians of A’king (clan) lands.
Beyond documentation, the collaboration seeks to foster exchange among traditional leaders and ensure their perspectives are integrated into formal policymaking and governance.
It may be noted that Futuring Heritage is a multi-year research project (2024-2030) based at Leiden University in the Netherlands, conducted in collaboration with Ashoka University and RV University.The initiative explores how environmental conservation and climate change mitigation in the eastern Himalayas can align with the cultural values and expectations of indigenous communities.
The project draws on anthropology, human geography and environmental science to study the perceptions of local farmers, traders and wildlife experts regarding natural resources and traditional beliefs.
The first results of this collaborative effort are expected to be released by January 2027.
