Jeevanlata, 40, a resident of Phayeng village, located in West Imphal district of Manipur, doesn’t allow anybody to enter the forest without prior permission of any Land and Forest Protection committee member. "Village rules prohibit anyone from entering the forest area without permission or knowledge of village heads.
A fine is imposed as penalty for entering without permission or doing any harm to forest environment, like cutting trees without permission," she informs. Hunting is also controlled in the same way. Villagers can hunt only once in a year in the name of "Lai-Harouba" (Syvan deity worship) as an offering to the gods. Phayeng is the first village in the country declared as a carbonneutral inhabitation in the northeast region of the country.
It is a small village in Lamsang of Imphal West district of Manipur, located about 17 km from the state capital. With a population of about 6,000 people, it is known for preserving indigenous culture and knowledge, which is now being used to make it climate resilient.
Rising heat
Climate change in general will have a significant effect on all natural ecosystems. However, the impact will be far greater on the already-stressed ecosystems of the Eastern Himalayas. Manipur's ecosystem is highly vulnerable, both due to geological reasons and on account of the stress caused by increased pressure of population, exploitation of natural resources and other related challenges. Rapid urbanisation has caused decline in agriculture and forest, resulting in food insecurity and social unrest.
The loss of ecosystem due to unsustainable management of land-water and forest is causing irreversible loss to biodiversity. The role of its forests as a carbon sink too is getting reduced. Though the state is rich in biodiversity and natural resources it is feeling the heat due to rise in temperature. In the past century the average minimum temperature has gone up by 1.7 degree Celsius. Rainfall has become erratic, resulting in reduction in winter crops.
In 1970 the area had very dense forest (around 7678.78 hectares) but by 2016 it was reduced to 579.38 ha. The village has experienced long dry spells after heavy precipitation concentrated in a few days. This has affected some late-sown traditional varieties of paddy and the vegetable cultivation too has declined.
There was about 1,500 ha of non-irrigated agricultural land in the village. Since there is no irrigation facility, farmers are practising only mono-cropping.
Carbon-positive
With this background, Phayeng Village has developed as a Carbon-Positive Eco-Model village and has adapted climate vulnerabilities so that the same practices may be replicated in other such villages.
Under the project, greenhouse gas sequestration has been enhanced through various initiatives so that it overtakes net release of greenhouse gas emissions.
The initiatives include promoting integrated mountain farming, introducing climate resilient crops, replacing biomass in cooking stoves with renewable energy. In addition, innovative measures include regeneration of lost springs, maximising green cover and protection of natural resources.
All this is being done with the help of active community participation and blending with traditional knowledge. In order to implement these unique measures several committees have been formed to protect natural resources. Jeevanlata is a deputy head of one of such committee called Land Protection and Forest Committee.
She has pledged to protect her village forests from any trespassers. Apart from Jeevanlata, most inhabitants not only protect their forests but, as owners, also have a charge to control them. The Forest Protection Committee Secretary Ningthoujam Sanjoy informed that the reasons for preserving and conserving the forest has, multiple factors ~ culturally, socially and environmentally.
"Looking back into the past, we have our traditional and indigenous culture and forest was a part of it and preservation became important for us. Forests are our God, for living, for food and water, as all the element of living depends on forest," said Sanjoy.
Viable measures
To ensure safe supply of drinking water for all inhabitants of the village, riverbed and waterbodies have been widened. In addition, plantation of medicinal trees, construction of masonry dam and introduction of climate resilient agricultural practices have been undertaken.
Through proper irrigation facilities, rainwater harvesting practices, modernisation of agriculture with new techniques with changing of cropping pattern, the villagers see an improved livelihood. Sanjoy also informed that every house in Phayeng has bamboo growing in its surroundings. Besides offering protection from harsh winds, the family uses them extensively.
Chanthoi, a village resident, spoke of the various measures taken for a sustainable living. "Majority of the women folk are involved in brewing alcohol (rice wine). But we are looking forward to smoke-less chulha. Each house has dug a small pit to collect kitchen garbage.
One can see here different kind of crops, which have zero-tillage." The state climate change cell is undertaking capacity building of the village people, helping them develop skills as well as create market linkages, informed T Brajakumar Singh, deputy director, Environment and Climate Change Cell.
A village knowledge centre has been developed to document indigenous conservation practices and assist the use of ecosystem for sustainable livelihood.
In addition, the village is also trying to develop a community-based eco health resort for yoga and natural living.
The writer is Editor, Transparency, and Head of Media and Advocacy at Centre for Media Studies