Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar has issued a stark warning about the severe vulnerability of India's northeastern region to climate disturbances, pointing to visible and alarming changes in one of the world's most significant rainfall areas.
Climate Crisis in the World's Wettest Region
Speaking at the 4th Annual International Conference in Shillong, Governor Vijayashankar highlighted the dramatic transformations occurring in Mawsynram, the area globally recognized for receiving the highest rainfall. The governor expressed deep concern over the clear evidence of climate change manifesting through altered rainfall patterns, shifting seasonal distributions, and disrupted climatic rhythms that are threatening the region's ecological balance.
The governor emphasized several critical indicators of climate change that are becoming increasingly apparent across the northeastern region. These include the rising frequency of abnormal rainfall events, significant changes in monsoon behavior patterns, accelerated erosion processes, and alarming rates of habitat loss that collectively pose a serious threat to the area's biodiversity and human settlements.
Call for Scientific Documentation and Policy Action
Governor Vijayashankar made an urgent appeal to scholars and researchers to systematically document these environmental changes using scientific methods. He stressed the need for developing research-based frameworks that can effectively guide policymakers in creating strategies to safeguard the region's ecological future and protect its vulnerable communities from the worsening impacts of climate change.
The conference, which brought together experts from various fields, was organized through a collaboration between North Eastern Hill University, the Society for Pathways to Sustainability (PathS), and several other organizations. The event focused on the theme "Sustainable Development: Theory, Practice, Approach and Policy" and featured more than 100 research paper presentations alongside multiple thematic panel discussions.
Indigenous Wisdom Versus Modern Challenges
Governor Vijayashankar expressed particular concern about the destructive patterns of extractive development that have characterized the modern industrial era. He noted that these practices have led to severe natural resource depletion, widespread environmental degradation, and deepening socio-economic inequalities that threaten the region's stability and wellbeing.
The governor described Meghalaya as a "natural and cultural repository of sustainable practices" where indigenous communities have historically maintained organic, low-impact farming methods and respected nature as an integral part of their socio-cultural ethos. This traditional wisdom, he suggested, offers valuable lessons for contemporary environmental conservation efforts.
Governor Vijayashankar also issued a strong warning against the dangers of monoculture plantation patterns, which he said create long-term ecological imbalances by disrupting natural nutrition cycles and weakening critical biodiversity linkages. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing native species, protecting endangered plants and animals, and focusing on medicinal plants to conserve genetic diversity and enhance the natural resilience of ecosystems.
The conference included a dedicated session on 'Sustainable Development in the North East: Challenges and Opportunities', reflecting the growing recognition of the urgent need to address environmental concerns while pursuing development goals in this ecologically sensitive region of India.
