Shillong, June 28: A capacity-building workshop titled “Learning from the Land: Participatory Knowledge Harvest from Assam and Meghalaya” was conducted at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Guwahati Off-Campus.
The workshop brought together NGOs from Assam and Meghalaya who have partnered with UNDP-SGP to share grassroots knowledge and resources on sustainable land use and agro-ecological practices.
The workshop aimed to foster local knowledge exchange and promote community-driven solutions for environmental sustainability and agro-biodiversity conservation in the region.
Over 50 NGO participants attended the workshop, which focused on empowering local communities in the areas of sustainability and livelihoods.
Dr Purnima Devi Barman, a wildlife biologist from Assam, spoke about her experiences with the Hargila Army, a sustainable development and biodiversity conservation model.
Dr Naba Kumar Goswami, Senior Fellow and Regional Coordinator TERI North East Centre, highlighted the importance of community-led initiatives in environmental restoration and protection.
Amba Jamir, Policy Analyst and Development Strategist, emphasized the need for policies to be built at the local level.
Prof Sudip Mitra, Founding head, School of Agro and Rural Technology (SART), IIT-Guwahati, discussed the role of traditional technological institutions in innovating solutions for sustainable technology.
Dr Rahul Mahanta, Associate Professor, Cotton University, spoke about the importance of respecting knowledge and considering changes in the course of nature.
Tithal Parmar, WASH Specialist, UNICEF India, highlighted the need for comprehensive sanitation solutions in Guwahati.
Participating NGOs shared community-led practices and innovations in biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and land restoration. The discussions emphasized the need for sustained support through policy reforms, funding, and partnerships.
Dr John Borgoyary, Regional Head UNDP North East India, spoke about the UNDP’s efforts to make the world a better place for future generations.
The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks presented by Dr Abhinandan, acknowledging the participating members for their contributions to knowledge creation.
The workshop is part of a broader initiative supported by UNDP-GEF-SGP-TERI, aimed at reinforcing community capacities in natural resource management and traditional knowledge systems.
