Shillong (Meghalaya), June 4: Meghalaya is paying communities to protect forests and scaling up climate projects as it tries to balance rapid development with ecology in the “Abode of Clouds”.
Under Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, the State launched the GREEN Meghalaya scheme in June 2022 on a Payment for Ecosystem Services model. After early success, GREEN Meghalaya+ was rolled out to conserve an additional 50,000 hectares, with support to villages, clans and individuals who pledge to protect natural forests for at least 30 years. Meghalaya is the first state in India to implement PES at this scale.
In March, over 2,700 beneficiaries received more than ₹25 crore in Shillong, and ₹1.16 crore went to 60 beneficiaries in Tura. In Daronggre, Garo Hills, clans are conserving forests with incentives up to ₹20,000. In Jaintia Hills, the Pyrtuh clan is protecting 15 hectares in Mustem village under the scheme.
The government said over 30,000 hectares of new forests have been planted in the last eight years. Under the MegARISE project, vulnerable catchments in Umiew and Ganol are being secured through sustainable forest management. Around 60,000 springs have been mapped in five years, 747 critical water sources protected, and more than 530 community water harvesting structures are coming up with livelihood support.
The MegLIFE project targets restoration of 22,500 hectares of degraded forests across 30 blocks in 12 districts. In New Shillong Township, the Avenue Plantation Project launched in 2025 aims to plant 6,000 trees along 25 km of roads and 2 km of medians.
Meghalaya’s community-led climate work, including spring mapping and adaptive water harvesting, was cited in the Economic Survey 2025-26 presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
