Climate Change Adaptation – North Eastern Region of India (CCA-NER)
Project description
Title: Climate Change Adaptation – North Eastern Region of India (CCA-NER)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: India
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER), Government of India
Overall term: 2016 to 2019
Context
Climate change has dramatic impacts on natural resources, economic activities, food security, health and physical infrastructure. India is one of the countries most strongly affected by climate change. The threat is especially great wherever people’s livelihoods are particularly dependent on natural resources. In these vulnerable areas, climate adaptation measures are of central importance for the protection of rural livelihoods and for ensuring sustainable development.
Nestled in the Himalayas, the North Eastern Region of India comprises the ‘Seven Sister States’ of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, plus the ‘Brother’ state of Sikkim. The region is a global biodiversity hotspot, as well as being home to many different ethnic groups with a rich cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of the environment.
Objective
Public and private service providers and rural communities in the North-Eastern states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Sikkim are undertaking modern strategies for climate change adaptation.
Approach
This project is a bilateral cooperation arrangement between the governments of India and Germany. Working with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER) at the national level, it supports the three North-Eastern states in their efforts to enhance the climate resilience of rural communities. The regional project partners are the State Planning Department in Meghalaya, the Nagaland Empowerment of People through Economic Development and the Department of Science, Technology and Climate Change in Sikkim.
The project activities range from policy advice at the state level, to direct community level support and the creation of partnerships and networks in the region and beyond. Additionally, the project applies a range of human, institutional and societal capacity development measures:
- Preparation and assistance in implementing State Action Plans on Climate Change
- Drafting of a water policy in Meghalaya
- Spring-shed development and the preparation of village water security plans in Tendong Hill region, Sikkim
- Support for the cultivation of indigenous rice varieties in Meghalaya and Nagaland
- Improvement of Eri silk production in Meghalaya
- A study on the regeneration, conservation and sustainable management of oak forests in Sikkim
- Inputs for the integrated management of land and water resources in the Upper Umiam River Basin, Meghalaya
- Breeding of indigenous fish species in Meghalaya
- Support for the compilation of climate change relevant data in Meghalaya
- Training and awareness raising on climate change, at government and community levels
Results
The project has contributed to climate change adaptation in the North Eastern Region through various means and at various levels. In particular, this includes policy advice and the provision of advice on using and conserving public goods, such as water and forests, and on agricultural production such as rice. The project will continue from April 2015 under the auspices of the Indo-German Environment Programme in Rural Areas, and will increase its target region in the North East by two more states.