Proposed NEC project to address deforestation, soil erosion and flood risks
A meeting on the proposed project for “Conservation and Restoration of Catchment Areas of Barak River in the States of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland” was held at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Kohima, on August 31.
The meeting was chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, Ruopfukuotuo Noudi, and attended by representatives of the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCORMS) and officials from concerned state departments.
A NERCORMS representative presented the proposed project, which is to be implemented by the North Eastern Council (NEC), Shillong, with NERCORMS as the executing agency. The project is proposed to be funded by the Government of India and KfW, Germany.
The project seeks to address environmental challenges in the Barak basin caused by unsustainable land use and inadequate watershed management. Concerns include deforestation, soil erosion, wetland degradation, shifting cultivation, riverbank erosion, high sediment loads and increasing flood risks downstream.
Proposed interventions include landscape planning, catchment restoration, climate mitigation, forestry and horticulture, development of farm and forest product value chains, and project management. Activities will cover soil and moisture conservation, plantation and forest protection, biodiversity conservation, springshed management, livelihood promotion and community capacity building.
The project is expected to improve vegetation cover, strengthen climate resilience, reduce flood risks and enhance livelihood opportunities through sustainable natural resource management.
The meeting also reviewed the ongoing feasibility study and data requirements from various departments. Discussions covered community forests, customary land ownership, upper-catchment management, water resources, agriculture, soil health, agroforestry, biodiversity, livelihoods and traditional ecological knowledge.
NERCORMS highlighted the project’s intended grassroots approach, with local communities’ needs and perspectives forming an important part of the planning process. The meeting also stressed inclusive participation and proposed designating a state nodal officer to coordinate project-related activities.
