Climate Change Actions in Meghalaya initiatives under State Action Plan on Climate Change Dr Subhash Ashutosh Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Nodal Officer , Climate Change Government of Meghalaya Conserving Now, Preserving Future 9 th Nov,2017
Climate Change and Meghalaya • Meghalaya is situated at the unique confluence of the Indo-Malayan, Indo-Chinese and Indian sub continent bio-geographical regions. Coupled with its physiographic features, the State has diverse habitats, which harbours diverse biota with high level of endemism • Meghalaya is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its geo-ecological fragility, landscape and socio-economic profile • the State faces a major threat from the projected changes in climate. Climate sensitive sectors like agriculture, water resources, forests, health, sanitation, and rural development are likely to be affected by climate change • Meghalaya’s economy is closely linked to its natural resource base • over 70% people in Meghalaya are dependent on agriculture and natural resources for livelihood. • despite heavy rainfall, many areas turn water-stressed after rainy months due to heavy run-off – many springs have dried up • land use in the State is changing rapidly, natural resources are facing threat of degradation
Change in Annual Average Temperature (Observed) 1981-2012
Change in Annual Average Temperature (Projected) 1920-2050
Change in Annual Mansoon Average Rainfall (Observed) 1981-2012
Change in Annual Mansoon Average Rainfall (Projected) 2020-2050
Adverse Impacts of Climate Change in the State Higher temperature, increased rainfall in lesser number of rainy days and increased frequency of extreme weather events are likely to cause disastrous consequences in the State – flash floods – land slides – excessive soil erosion (particularly from the shifting cultivation areas) – increase in flood affected areas – large scale damage to agricultural crops – siltation of reservoirs – damage of roads and other infrastructure – Increase in diseases particularly malaria – increase in drought affected areas in some parts of the State – stress on many floral and faunal species impacting biodiversity of the state adversely – damage to the forests; impact on regeneration and drying of forest stands – increase in forest fire occurrences – shift in forest types – changes in wildlife habitats and migratory routes – rise in elephant depredation cases and man-animal conflict – invasion of alien species and weeds – stress on agricultural crops and livestock, increased incidence of diseases and pathogens – adverse impact on other livelihood activities like sericulture, aquaculture, apiculture etc
Objectives of Climate Change Actions in the State • scientific understanding of climate change phenomenon in the State – creation of knowledge at an adequate scale and resolution and assess its impact on different sectors • variability, CC projections, impacts and vulnerability • sector specific assessment • up to the district and sub district level • mainstreaming climate change adaptation in development planning • making livelihood sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, fishery, livestock, sericulture, forestry resilient to climate change • minimize adverse impacts of climate change on the people, livelihoods and economy of the State with a long term perspective • build resilience in the ecosystems and adapt green economy pathways • to expand and diversify livelihood opportunities as a strategy of adaptation to CC • create wide spread awareness and build capacities in different stake holder groups • leverage opportunities available due to climate change, under adaptation and mitigation from national and international initiatives
State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) • approved by MoEFF & CC, GoI • presents background and an overview of Sectors Covered climate change scenario in the State including • Agriculture variability, projections and impacts on different • Sustainable Habitat sectors • Sustainable Forestry • an overview of different missions under NAPCC • Sustainable Water Management • an overview of each of the six sectors in the State • Mining Sector • discusses vulnerability of different sectors w.r.t. • Energy Sector CC • Cross Cutting Issues • 150 actions have been identified across six • Ecotourism sectors out of which 76 actions have been • Health identified as priority actions • proposed outlay for identified actions - Rs 6298 crore SAPCC is under revision in the light of latest data and recent studies * can be downloaded from the link http://www.moef.nic.in/sites/default/files/sapcc/Meghalaya.pdf.
Climate Change Actions in the State : mile stones • Meghalaya State Council on Climate Change and Sustainable Development (MSCCC & SD) constituted – headed by Chief Minister • Steering Committee constituted – headed by Chief Secretary • Meghalaya Centre for Adaptation to Climate Change launched (Sept, 2013) • State Action Plan on Climate Change(SAPCC) prepared and submitted to MOEF&CC, Govt of India (February 2014) • SAPCC approved by MoEF&CC (September 2014) • a Project Proposal to establish a Meghalaya Climate Change Centre under the National Mission for Sustainable Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) was submitted to Department of Science & Technology (DST), GoI, the same was approved (June 2015) • a Project Proposal on ‘Capacity Building on Climate Change’ submitted to MoEF&CC, the same was approved (July 2015) contd..
• Meghalaya Climate Change Center (MCCC) established (October 2015) • under MBDA, Planning Department • housed in MBDA Office Nongrim Hills • MCACC merged with MCCC • State Level Workshop on SAPCC for the officials of the concerned Departments organised (April 2015, May 2016) • Studies to understand Climate Change in the State • Identification of climate vulnerability hot-spots in Meghalaya using high resolution climate projections - IIT Gandhi Nagar ( November 2015) • Assessment of the impact of climate change on forests and biodiversity of Meghalaya – Indian Institute of Science, Banglore (March 2016) • Carbon Footprint Study of Meghalaya – CII Godrej Green Business Center, Hyderabad (June 2015) • Impacts of Climate Change and Adaptation to It: Perception and Traditional Knowledge of the People in Rural Areas of Meghalaya contd..
• a DPR on ‘rejuvenation of springs by integrated springshed development in the State’ was submitted under the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) with an outlay of Rs 22.92 crore – the same was approved by MoEF&CC – funds released by MoEF&CC (March 2016) • workshop for sensitizing the Department officials on NAFCC project proposals organised (April 2016) • awareness workshops for the Students conducted • awareness campaign in the villages launched • a project proposal for Meghalaya ‘Restoration of Degraded Forests by Community Forest Management for Livelihood and Enterprise Promotion’ under Green Climate Fund (GCF) - being steered by UNDP and MoEF & CC is under preparation • a project on REDD+ is under implementation • meetings with the individual Departments & MCCC • to identify adaptation project proposals • revise SAPCC
Integration of top-down and bottom-up approach Approach to Develop Adaptation Strategy Assessment of Current Climate Climate Change Assessment of Developing Vulnerability profiles variability projections Impacts of Climate Adaptation of agriculture, water, assessment change strategies forest & other sectors
Top-down approach: • Adaptation to climate change needs better understanding of its impacts in different sectors. • Study on mapping vulnerable hotspots has been undertaken for creating State specific knowledge on climate change based on the latest data and computer modelling science. Reports “Identification of climate vulnerability hot - spots in Meghalaya using high-resolution climate projections” by IIT Gandhinagar, Gujarat “Carbon footprint Study Meghalaya State” by CII Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabad “Vulnerability of Forests and Biodiversity of Meghalaya to Climate Change” by IISc Bangalore
Initiatives under Mission Green • establishing community nurseries • catchment area afforestation • tree plantation drives • sustainable livelihood interventions • spring shed development • promotion of organic farming • knowledge services through the institutions • seed bank • green energy • community NRM projects under convergence
Programmes & Initiatives of the State Government Departments towards Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation • Afforestation programmes by the Forest & Environment and Soil & Water Conservation Departments • Joint Forest Management, Conservation Reserves, Wildlife habitat and corridor management by Forest & Environment Department • Solar energy initiatives • Water harvesting structures • Horticulture and Sericulture initiatives • Accelerated irrigation benefit programme • Creation of multi purpose reservoirs • Installation of Hydrological and Meteorological stations
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