Meghalaya Mirrors

Anjal Prakash is Professor - Public Policy at Flame University, Pune, India. Earlier he was the Clinical Associate Professor (Research) and Research Director at the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, ISB. With over 25 years of experience in water, climate, and policy research across South Asia, he has served as Coordinating Lead Author for the IPCC’s Special Report on Oceans and Cryosphere and contributed to the IPCC AR6. He specialises in urban resilience, gender, and social inclusion, and has authored numerous publications, including a number of edited books.Sampath Kumar, IAS, serves as Development Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Government of Meghalaya. With 26 years of public administration experience, he pioneered the State Capability Enhancement Project (SCEP), promoting adaptive governance, convergence, and data-driven decisionmaking. Under his leadership, Meghalaya achieved a significant reduction in acute malnutrition and institutionalised its Early Childhood Development Mission. A Harvard Kennedy School alumnus, he continues to champion systemic governance reforms rooted in community participation and iterative learning.Gunanka D. B., an Indian Forest Service officer, is the Additional Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya. With over 16 years spanning corporate IT and public administration, he works across institutional reform, natural resource management, and data-driven governance. He has led major externally aided projects financed by the World Bank, JICA, KfW, and ADB, strengthened geospatial systems, and advanced community-led conservation models. His work blends systems thinking with grounded implementation, contributing to applied research and policy innovation in ecologically sensitive regions. Currently, he is on study leave to pursue an MPA-DP at SIPA, Columbia University, through the Fulbright-Nehru Scholarship and Columbia Dean’s Distinguished Scholarship.

'This insightful volume is a testament to the resilience and innovation of Meghalaya's communities in environmental stewardship. It serves as an inspiring blueprint for others worldwide, emphasizing the importance of local engagement in sustainable development.' - Mr. Aibanshngain Swer, Director, Meghalaya Institute of Governance, Shillong, India'The book showcases how local communities in the North East address environmental challenges of the region. The work presents narratives of grassroots initiatives and demonstrates the potential of community-driven conservation approaches for sustainable development.'- Dr M. Dinesh Kumar, Executive Director, Institute of Resource Analysis and Policy, Hyderabad, India

• List of Figures xiiList of Tables xivList of Contributors xviPreface xxvAcknowledgements xxviiList of Abbreviations xxx1 Editorial: Meghalaya Mirrors – A Blueprint for Community-Led Environmental Resilience 1Anjal Prakash, Sampath Kumar, and Gunanka D. B.PART ICommunity Engagement: Empowering Local Institutions for Environmental Change 192 Ecological Transitions and Environmental Change in the North-Eastern Hills 21B. Padmapriya3 Building a Cadre of Community Professionals 41Dokatchi K. Marak and Nangteibor Shabong 4 Community Nurseries for Forest Restoration 59Bratati Purkayastha and Van Shanborlang Buhphang5 Community Seed Saving for Food Security 82Junie P. Lyngdoh, Reccica D. Lyngkhoi, M Wanlambok Sanglyne, and Thomas Iangjuh6 Preserving Cultural and Natural Heritage: Towards a Sustainable Future: Jingkieng Jri/Lyu ChraiCultural Landscape, an Exemplar of Community-Led Conservation and Heritage Stewardship 98Tilaris Marwein, Goldenstar Thongni, and Catherine Derica Kyndiah7 Supporting Grassroot Innovations 112Veveane Sayo, Delanmi Massar, and Gordon Steven PdePART IIInnovative Solutions: Harnessing Technology for Climate Resilience 1318 Sloping Agriculture Land Technology 133John Kearney Wanniang9 Neutralisation of Acid Mine Drainage Contaminated Water 147Effie Gwyneth L. Kharjana, Wansah Pyrbot, Justin Pathaw, Raynold Marwein, Bandarihun Kharlor, Fidellia Sun and Cheryl Bernice Pohrmen10 Community Led Hydrological Spring Mapping and Springshed Management in Meghalaya 161Gaurav Singh and Jillianda Kharjana11 Seed Ball Initiatives for Biodiversity Conservation 180Subhash Ashutosh, Tremie M. Sangma, and Rikmenlang Khongsng12 Integrating Technology for Natural Resource Management 191Raymond Wahlang and Fettleman DohlingPART IIIGreen Financing: Innovations in Funding Climate Action 21313 Conservation of Forests and Payment for Ecosystem Services 215James T. Kharkongor and Lavinia Mary Dkhar14 Forest Management Plan for Sustainable Forestry 230Lavinia Mary Dkhar, Jyswill Lyngdoh Nongpiur, Rajaul Karim and H. Liansuanmung15 Reclamation of Mining-Affected Land Using Aromatic Grass 253Hygina Siangbood, Paka I Yo Suja, Baniaraplang Syiemiong, Rikermeka Kharsahnoh, DiademaNongrum, Markshield Warjri, Mourdome B Marak and Rishotskhem Kharkongor16 Agroforestry-Carbon Project in Meghalaya 268Lavinia Mary Dkhar17 Leveraging Bamboo Resource 277Nangteibor Shabong and Lavinia Mary DkharPART IVGovernance and Policy 28918 The Policy and Governance Impact of the MBDA: A Case Study 291Wankit K. Swer19 Bridging Skill Gaps in Meghalaya through the Apprenticeship Training Programme 304T. Niang Suan Ching and Sucielia Mylliemngap20 Conclusion: Policy Convergence and the Blueprint for Regenerative Governance in Meghalaya 328Anjal Prakash, Sampath Kumar, and Gunanka D. B.Index 339