Shillong: The Council of Nokmas, the apex organization representing traditional leaders in the Garo Hills, has launched a long-term research partnership with the Futuring Heritage consortium. This agreement aims to create a detailed inventory of the various challenges surrounding environmental conservation, cultural heritage, and land management faced by over 1,500 traditional custodians of clan lands.
Chairman Wenison Marak and project lead Dr. Erik de Maaker signed the agreement on Monday at the Nokma Council headquarters in Tura. Beyond academic documentation, the initiative intends to integrate the perspectives of indigenous leaders into formal governance and policymaking. The effort seeks to explore how climate change mitigation and conservation efforts in the eastern Himalayas can align with the expectations of local communities.
Futuring Heritage is a multi-year project spanning 2024 to 2030, coordinated by Leiden University alongside Ashoka University and RV University. The research draws on fields including anthropology and environmental science to study the viewpoints of farmers and wildlife experts. According to the project statement, the collaboration intends to "ensure their perspectives are integrated into formal policymaking and governance." Stakeholders expect to publish the initial findings of this research by January 2027.
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