Shillong, Nov 14: Governor CH Vijayashankar has commended the ongoing initiatives of the JICA Forestry Project in promoting sustainable forest management, which aligns with India’s commitment to environmental conservation.
Addressing the 13th JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Forestry Workshop under the Forestry Project in India here, the governor emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts between government agencies, international organizations, and local communities in ensuring the preservation and regeneration of Meghalaya’s rich biodiversity and forest cover.
He also acknowledged the significant role the JICA project has played in enhancing local livelihoods, capacity-building, and infrastructure development through its forestry initiatives.
The governor urged continued innovation and adaptation of sustainable practices to combat challenges posed by climate change and deforestation.
The workshop brought together various stakeholders, including forestry officials, environmental experts, and representatives from the JICA project, to deliberate on sustainable forestry practices, afforestation efforts, and biodiversity conservation.
The workshop was also attended by Dr D Vijay Kumar, commissioner and secretary, and project director, MegLIFE; Eiji Wakamatsu, senior representative, JiCA; Sampath Kumar, principal secretary to Government of Meghalaya and development commissioner; and DP Wahlang, chief secretary of Meghalaya.
The workshop featured insightful presentations on various themes, including forest resource management, community participation in forest conservation, and the introduction of modern technologies to improve afforestation efforts, stated a press release.
The event concluded with a commitment to further strengthen cooperation between India and Japan for the betterment of forestry and ecological balance in the region.
