World Nature Conservation Day 2024: How This Organisation Is Preserving North East's Biodiversity Through Community Walks

The Meghalaya-based North East Society for Agroecology Support (NESFAS), formerly known as the North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society, organises walks to promote awareness of local knowledge systems related to food and medicinal plants in the region. This initiative aligns with one of the primary goals of World Nature Conservation Day: raising awareness about the importance of preserving natural resources for future generations. Traditional knowledge holders or custodian farmers typically lead these walks from various communities.

Going Back To The Roots

NESFAS and its communities have been regarded as guardians of the Indigenous Food Systems (IFS) for the continued work to promote and conserve the traditional food systems and the agrobiodiversity that supports these systems. Among the many activities that have been devised by the organisation and the partner communities to promote IFS, Agrobiodiversity (ABD) Walks is one activity that has continuously strengthened the transmission of traditional knowledge from the elderly members and community facilitators to the younger generations. In these walks, local knowledge holders lead groups of students/youths and introduce them to the various food plants and medicinal plants that are available in the different food production systems. Their knowledge of the seasonality and benefits of the plants and the herbs are also shared with the group who document and catalogue them.

The Purpose Of The Walks

The walks are not fixed, and are conducted during various programs and for various purposes. They make it a point to conduct walks during every major event to commemorate biodiversity and mother nature.

Under their project 'Empowering Indigenous Communities through Agroecology Learning Circles for resilient, integrated and innovative natural resource management', more than 70 ABD walks have been conducted and are still ongoing.

There are many things that one can learn from an ABD walk. For instance, the local landscape, biodiversity, food plants, and different food production systems. Especially the indigenous food systems such as jhum, biodiversity in forests, about kitchen gardens, and many more. One can also learn about the cooking methods of local food plants and generate awareness abou local variety of food plants, especially ones that are either on the verge of extinction, underutilised and neglected.

The Information

Address: HVCXMJ6, Kerie Ville, Arbuthnott Road, Laitumkhrah, behind Nazareth Hospital, Shillong, Meghalaya 793003

How to get there: Guwahati airport is 168 km, and Guwahati railway station is 145 km away.

For programmes and other details, visit nesfas.in