MAWRAH : The Meghalaya government on Friday said nearly one lakh hectares of land across the state are now covered under conservation and protection initiatives, describing it as a significant step in its ongoing environmental efforts.
The announcement was made during the World Environment Day programme at Mawrah in East Khasi Hills, where Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated new eco-tourism facilities and participated in a plantation drive.
Speaking at the event, Commissioner and Secretary for Tourism Vijay Kumar D said the achievement reflects years of work aimed at restoring degraded landscapes and protecting natural ecosystems.
Afforestation activities have covered around 25,000 hectares during the past five years, while an additional 14,000 hectares are expected to be brought under plantation programmes this year he said.
Combined with areas covered under the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) initiative, the total land under conservation and monitoring has now reached close to one lakh hectares. The programme also saw the inauguration of eco-cottages and a glasshouse restaurant at Mawrah Lake, part of the state’s efforts to promote sustainable tourism.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma distributed Green Meghalaya cheques to beneficiaries under the PES scheme and joined local residents in a plantation drive using the Miyawaki method.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister pointed to Mawrah as an example of how environmental restoration can transform communities. He said the area, which once struggled with water scarcity and ecological degradation, is gradually emerging as a tourism destination. Conrad stressed that development should not be measured solely through infrastructure projects but by the positive impact it creates in people’s lives.
He further said conservation initiatives become more meaningful when they generate income and opportunities for local communities.He also called for greater public participation in protecting natural resources, saying long-term environmental success depends on the involvement of local residents and community organisations.
The government has increasingly focused on linking conservation programmes with livelihood generation through initiatives such as PES, eco-tourism development and afforestation projects across different parts of the state.