Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project (LLBCP) organized

On 25th February 2023, Nature Environment & Wildlife Society (NEWS), under its International Climate Initiative (IKI) Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project (LLBCP) organized a day-long stakeholder consultation workshop at Chakardo Community Hall, Chakardo Village in Guwahati, Assam on “Alternative and Additional Livelihood in and around Deepor Beel: Scope and Challenges”. During our preparatory survey, NEWS found that land has been sold to large corporations. Livelihood options such as fishing and farming in and around Deepor Beel are suffering. The local community, who are frequently left out of such plans, need to be involved in the plans for the development and promotion of tourism. Local communities are finding it difficult to remain there with their options dwindling. Therefore, various alternative livelihood options like handicrafts, weaving on traditional handlooms, nature guide training, eco-tourism, backyard poultry farming, culinary skills, and biodiversity-friendly agriculture practices were discussed at length with the participants by the project team. The workshop was attended by fifty-two people including District Forest Officer, Guwahati Division and other Civil Society Organizations.