Celebrating Global Recognition for Community-led Conservation in Meghalaya

With a shared vision of aligning conservation, biodiversity and livelihoods to strengthen ecosystems and support the tribal communities who depend on them, we forayed into North-east India, in 2022.

The Agroecology Learning Circles, community-centered initiatives supported in partnership with the North East Society for Agroecology Support (NESFAS) and The Indigenous Partnership for Agrobiodiversity and Food Sovereignty (TIP) in Meghalaya, were awarded the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Farmer Field Schools Innovation Award 2025—one of just three winners selected globally from 360 entries!

This international recognition from the UN highlights our collaborative efforts to integrate wild edible foods into school mid-day meals enhancing nutrition and cultural connection, and to support Mei Ramew Cafés that are community-run spaces celebrating traditional and wild-foraged foods. It is a powerful testament to the impact of community-led conservation and the strength of our partnerships. 

The growing global and national interest in aligning biodiversity and livelihoods is especially urgent in North-east India, where two global biodiversity hotspots overlap and roughly a quarter of India’s carbon stocks are concentrated on less than ten percent of the land. Rural communities, predominantly tribal groups, depend heavily on these biological resources, and customary sustainable management systems are increasingly strained by rising economic pressures. In this changing context, models that balance people’s needs with conservation objectives are essential for sustaining landscapes and livelihoods. 

The award was presented on 16^th October 2025, at the FAO Science and Innovation Forum in Rome, where TNC-The Nature Conservancy Centre together with the implementation partners, accepted it on behalf of the communities from Meghalaya. It is a testament to the power of community-led conservation and the strength of our partnerships!