Meghalaya launches landmark forum to power community-led conservation

Correspondent

Shillong: In a pioneering move toward grassroots-driven ecological stewardship, the Meghalaya Government has launched its first-ever state-level platform dedicated to Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) — the Meghalaya Community Conserved Area Forum (MCCAF).

Unveiled during the 2nd State-Level CCA Convening Workshop at North-Eastern Hill University’s U Kiang Nangbah Auditorium, this landmark initiative is set to empower indigenous communities in conserving biodiversity and managing natural resources sustainably.

Organized by the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES), the event brought together representatives from 42 CCAs across five districts — East Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, and South Garo Hills. The momentum follows the first CCA convening held in March, where consensus was reached on the need for a unified state forum, drawing inspiration from the successful model in Nagaland.

MCCAF is the first of its kind in Meghalaya, envisioned as a platform for cross-community collaboration, sharing best practices, building technical capacities, and formulating collective conservation strategies. The forum will comprise a 90-member executive body with gender-balanced representation and a general body that includes all community participants.

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