Shillong: Residents of Pachang village in Mawkynrew observed World Environment Day this week by focusing on the practical connection between forest health and human survival. The event was hosted by the MegLife project, a community-led forest management initiative supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Aiban Swer, director of the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, led a demonstration by asking attendees to hold their breath. This exercise illustrated how human life relies on the continuous oxygen supply provided by local forests. During his address to the community, Swer explained the biological cycle of air purification. "Look at those trees there. They take in the foul air we breathe out and clean up that air so we can breathe it in," he said.
Following the demonstration, local students from RCLP School joined community members and the MegLife team to plant indigenous saplings. The village reported that trees planted during a similar initiative in 2023 are currently thriving, serving as evidence that active community involvement is the most effective method for successful long-term conservation.
Comments