Mokokchung Forest Division conducts exposure trip to Meghalaya

Mokokchung Forest Division conducted a four-day exposure trip to East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, from August 26 to 29, under the Forest and Biodiversity Management Project (FBMP). The initiative was part of the Community Conservation Area (CCA) Management Plan for Mangkolemba Beat, covering the villages of Khar, Mongchen, Dibuia, Alongkima, and Waromung.
A total of 20 participants, four representatives each from the CCAs and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) of the five villages were part of the delegation. The team was led by Moamongba, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), along with five supporting staff members.
The primary objective of the exposure trip was to study innovative methods for the reclamation and restoration of coal mining-affected areas, with a focus on ecologically sustainable practices.
During the program, Divisional Forest Officer, Social Forestry Division, Jaintia Hills (Jowai), B. Lyngdoh, delivered an introductory address, outlining the ongoing and future restoration initiatives under MEPRF. ACF Moamongba shared the purpose of the visit and emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange in community-led conservation.
The delegation visited several restoration sites, including those utilizing the Akira Miyawaki plantation technique, a dense planting method that accelerates forest regeneration. RFO Bamon provided a live demonstration of the Miyawaki method, explaining the selection of native species, multi-layered planting strategy, and the ecological advantages of the model. The Miyawaki method has been adopted in Meghalaya for its effectiveness in improving the productive capacity of degraded lands, enhancing the conservation value of landscapes, promoting ecological restoration and natural regeneration, establishing Environment Protection Forests (EPF) and encouraging community participation in restoration efforts