Shillong: Sohra residents gathered at Sa-I-Mika Park and Resort this week to learn about nature conservation. The Biodiversity Awareness and Eco-Tourism Training programme aimed to teach local youth how to protect Meghalaya's flora and fauna while building sustainable jobs. The event drew support from the Wild Roots Nature Conservation Foundation and the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication.
Experts taught participants how to survey local species, bird-watch, and document nature through photography. Dr. Biswajit De, founder of the Wild Roots foundation, led the instruction alongside park managing director Ainamé HR Phanbuh. These experts pushed for hands-on field experience. Organisers hope the training turns local youth into active guardians of the region's natural wealth.
The team got their hands dirty during a river clean-up drive. Local guides including Tenny Kynta and Mebakordor Nongkynrih pulled 147 kilograms of trash from a two-kilometre stretch of the river. This effort highlighted the clear need for better waste management to save local ecosystems. The programme wrapped up with a certificate ceremony under the IUCN NatureForAll banner. Organisers noted the event was "aimed at empowering local communities through conservation and sustainable tourism."
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