Meghalaya Sets Ambitious 100,000 Hectare Forest Conservation Target Under Green Initiative
In a significant environmental push, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has announced the state's ambitious target to conserve one lakh hectares of forest land under the enhanced Green Meghalaya+ program. This initiative represents a major conservation effort for a state that currently boasts approximately 17,000 square kilometers of forest cover, highlighting Meghalaya's commitment to preserving its rich biodiversity and natural heritage.
Payment for Ecosystem Services: Financial Incentives Driving Conservation
The Green Meghalaya+ program operates on the innovative Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) concept, which provides direct financial incentives to forest owners and local communities for their conservation efforts. Under this scheme, beneficiaries receive payments ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 per hectare of protected forest area, creating a sustainable economic model that aligns environmental protection with community welfare.
Chief Minister Sangma revealed that this approach has already yielded impressive results, with over 2,800 beneficiaries conserving nearly 40,000 hectares of forest across various regions of Meghalaya. The announcement came during a program in Tura where cheques were distributed to current beneficiaries, marking tangible progress toward the state's conservation goals.
Substantial Financial Commitments Supporting Conservation Efforts
The financial scale of the Green Meghalaya+ initiative is substantial, with Rs 77.21 crore already disbursed to support conservation activities. This includes a significant allocation of Rs 34.73 crore specifically for the Garo Hills region, demonstrating targeted support for areas with rich forest ecosystems. According to Sangma, approximately Rs 48 crore will be released to beneficiaries in the current phase, ensuring continued momentum for the conservation program.
In South West Garo Hills alone, incentives worth Rs 48.23 lakh are being distributed to beneficiaries from Rerapara, Zikzak, and Betasing blocks. This funding supports the conservation of 551.18 hectares of forest area, showcasing how localized efforts contribute to the state's broader environmental objectives.
FOCUS+ Program: Strengthening Rural Livelihoods Alongside Conservation
Parallel to the forest conservation efforts, Chief Minister Sangma detailed the progress of the FOCUS+ program, launched in July 2022 to strengthen rural livelihoods across Meghalaya. This complementary initiative provides direct financial support of Rs 5,000 annually to eligible producer households, following a strict "one beneficiary per household" rule to ensure fairness and prevent duplication in assistance distribution.
During the initial rollout in 2022-23, the program reached 1,50,662 beneficiaries with disbursements totaling Rs 75.33 crore. Following a comprehensive verification exercise integrated with the Meghalaya One Portal, 93,285 beneficiaries were confirmed as eligible, while those removed were given the opportunity to reapply through the portal, ensuring transparency and accuracy in beneficiary selection.
System Strengthening Leads to Phased Disbursements
Sangma explained that payments for the 2023-24 period were deliberately delayed to strengthen the program's administrative systems. This strategic pause resulted in a phased disbursement approach, with Rs 2,500 released in August 2025 and another Rs 2,500 in December 2025, totaling Rs 46.64 crore for that fiscal year.
For the 2024-25 period, the government is releasing the first tranche of Rs 2,500 for 93,285 verified beneficiaries, along with 11,133 newly verified households from the Garo Hills region. This expansion brings the total households supported under FOCUS+ to 1,04,418, representing significant growth in the program's reach and impact.
Cumulative Impact and Regional Distribution
To date, the FOCUS+ program has disbursed Rs 148.08 crore to support rural households across Meghalaya. In the Garo Hills region specifically, the current tranche will benefit 81,046 households, including 11,133 new beneficiaries, with Rs 20.26 crore being released across five districts.
South West Garo Hills will see particularly significant support, with 14,017 beneficiaries receiving Rs 3.50 crore in the current phase. This regional distribution demonstrates how both the Green Meghalaya+ and FOCUS+ programs work in tandem to address environmental conservation and economic development needs across Meghalaya's diverse communities.
Chief Minister Sangma's announcements highlight Meghalaya's comprehensive approach to sustainable development, combining forest conservation with rural livelihood support to create a model that other states might emulate. The substantial financial commitments and growing beneficiary numbers indicate strong momentum for both initiatives as Meghalaya works toward its environmental and economic goals.
