A two-day state-level workshop on “Promotion of Climate Resilience and Green Livelihoods in Meghalaya,” organised by the Forests & Environment Department, concluded on Tuesday, March 3, at Tree House Resort in Tura, bringing together senior government officials, subject experts, stakeholders, representatives of organisations and farmers to discuss strategies for strengthening climate resilience, sustainable forest management and green livelihood opportunities across the state.
Participants focused on practical measures to link conservation with livelihoods, emphasising ways to diversify income while protecting forest ecosystems. The programme combined technical sessions, policy discussions and division-wise opportunity mapping to identify scalable green economic activities suited to Meghalaya’s ecology and communities.
The first day centred on Agar-based livelihoods. Among those present were Chairman, Lok Ayukta, Meghalaya, Shri C.P. Marak (IFS Retd.), Shri T.T.C. Marak (IFS Retd.), and Adviser to the Forests & Environment Department, Shri R.S. Gill (IFS Retd.). Shri C.P. Marak highlighted the vast potential of Agarwood-often referred to as “green gold”—as a sustainable source of income, recalling the region’s long history of trade in forest produce dating back to the British era in the erstwhile Assam region. While welcoming efforts to promote Agar cultivation, he called for stronger government support and urged a review of the current export quota of 25,000 kg to better benefit growers.
Shri T.T.C. Marak warned against repeating past exploitative practices and urged a holistic, sustainable approach. He stressed coordinated action on policy, certification, inoculation, extraction and legal trade, and cautioned that without adequate knowledge of processing and marketing, cultivation alone may not yield expected returns. He recommended identifying uninfected mature Agar trees for oil production, setting up government facilitation centres and exploring buyback mechanisms to secure farmer incomes.
On the second day, delegates discussed climate resilience measures and mapped division-wise green economic opportunities. A panel examined the Draft Forest Policy with participation from Divisional Forest Officers and other stakeholders, aiming to align policy frameworks with on-ground livelihood and conservation needs. The workshop underlined the need for coordinated state support to turn Meghalaya’s forest resources into sustainable, climate-resilient livelihoods.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/03/03/state-level-workshop-on-promotion-of-climate-resilience-and-green-livelihoods-concludes-at-tura/
Category: MEGHALAYA,News Alert
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Publish Date: 2026-03-03 21:53:00
