The dependency on digital technology has made human beings almost a slave to modern technology. The younger generation is especially trapped in mobiles and laptops which have disconnected them from the nature and outer world. Biodiversity Walks are designed for such groups at schools and colleges to encourage and appreciate the existing biodiversity in their local environment.

These Biodiversity walks were led by the community knowledge holders who introduce their group to a variety of edible and medicinal plants. They share all they know about wild edibles and how to use them. The use of wild edible and medicinal plants has a vital role in Indian heritage. In Indian mythology, the use of these endangered medicinal plants has been mentioned in many places. A biodiversity walk is a useful tool for practical teaching since it is linked to local knowledge about indigenous flora that Mother Nature freely provides.

The Social Service Centre, (SSC) under the FARM Northeast program has been working hard for the past two years to encourage young people to appreciate the diversity of our area’s medicinal and micronutrient-rich indigenous flora. The FARM project focuses on food sovereignty and security, ensuring that all farmers have food security without relying on others. Working toward these goals and objectives, SSC takes the initiative to raise community understanding of the importance of wild foods. Throughout the initiative, communities were educated and interacted with about wild edibles in order to make them aware of the abundance of wild edibles in our area, which most of us had forgotten and disregarded.

SSC takes the initiative in March 2021 to organise Biodiversity Walks for youth and women in Ri-bhoi District’s Nongtyrlaw Village. It was a new village with a total population of 255 people and 44 households mostly engaged in farming, teaching, and government service. The goal of the Biodiversity walks is to teach and inspire the community’s kids about the area’s rich biodiversity and the necessity of safeguarding Mother Nature and her treasures. The ecosystem and surroundings had provided the best of everything, particularly lush and healthful wild edibles. However, the majority of wild edibles are ignored and forgotten, and many young people are unaware of the nutritional benefits that wild plants provide. Recognizing the threat of extinction of these wild edibles, SSC staff developed this programme to educate young people about the importance of wild edibles, which they should pass on to their children. SSC conducted an intervention to encourage the community to establish a biodiversity garden in order to domesticate wild edibles that can be grown in a controlled environment. SSC has also taken the lead in encouraging the community to protect forest areas with wild edibles.

Following the biodiversity walk, the Kyrsoilang group, one of the farm groups, came up with an idea to take on the duty of planting and caring for wild edibles in a specific garden. In April 2021, they planted 16 wild edibles brought from the forest that was on the verge of extinction, such as Jakari, Jowla, Wangsihktung, JadohBlang, Tyrkhang, Jatira, Jamahek Jamyrdoh Kymbat Shiah Jalynjar, Soh Ngang, Soh Ladow Khynnah, JajowRiting (Local term), and Until now, all 16 wild edibles have remained in good form.

“God has given us a variety of natural resources and it is our responsibility to protect and preserve them since we have the right to use and utilise what has been given to us,” Says Meris Maring, one of the villagers.

The Biodiversity Walk and Garden model was first implemented in Nongtyrlaw village and later replicate in the East Khasi Hills District in Wahramkhar, Jaud, ShilliangKthieh village of Sohiong Block, and Lasain village of Jongksha the following year. SSC wants to encourage people to plant more biodiversity gardens in their yards.

“There are many wild edibles that are really healthy for health, but we are so selfish that we didn’t eat them ourselves and instead sold them,” Kmen Lyngdoh, an ASHA, explained.

Deisy F. Thongnibah, the field animator says, learning about and observing the biodiversity garden in Nongtyrlaw village with numerous types of wild edibles is a fascinating experience. The garden’s entrance is surrounded by pineapple-filled ground. The garden is a real attempt to conserve the environment, particularly eco-friendly and sustainable wild species. The beauty and wonder of native species are showcased in a communal forest that spans one acre of land. The biodiversity garden is both a model and an educational instrument that will be passed down to future generations.

“Nature has so much to offer, but many people treat it with disdain. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to care for Mother Earth. We appreciate the SSC staff who, from time to time, motivates us to be grateful for the free gifts that nature has bestowed upon us and to respect nature by preserving the natural delicacies that we have in abundance,” stated Johnny Lyngdoh, one of the kids from the village.