A two-day workshop was organized at Circuit House, Jowai, Jaintia Hills District during 3-4^th October 2005 in collaboration with Social Forestry Division Jowai. Welcome address was given by Dr. S. K. Barik, and key note address was delivered by Prof. H. N. Pandey. In his address he discusses correlated the linkage between the poverty alleviation and eco-restoration. The chief guest, Shri V. K. Nautiyal, PCCF, Meghalaya inaugurated the programme and delivered with an inaugural speech. He proposed the introduction of bamboos and medicinal plants in NAP as a future course of action while rehabilitating the degraded lands. The inaugural session ended with the vote of thanks by Shri. C. P. Marak, the Conservator of Forests. The Workshop was divided into 4 sessions including visits to plantations sites under NAP. Six presentations were made during the technical sessions. Coordinator, Joint Coordinator, Core Group Member and Research Officer of the Regional Centre, NAEB, Shillong, the Conservator of Forests, Social Forestry, Meghalaya and Extension Officer, Agriculture, Jowai and Assistant Soil Conservation Officer, Jowai and Assistant Soil Conservation Officer, Jowai were resource persons for the workshop. The topics covered in the workshop were as follows:

i.                     Ecological implication of land degradation in Meghalaya

ii.                   Strategies for eco-restoration of fragile areas: present role of NAP and future possibilities

iii.                  The status of national afforestation programme (NAP) in Meghalaya and efforts for the eco-restoration through NAP

iv.                 Landscape degradation due to coal mining

v.                   Role of Agriculture Department in rehabilitation of shifting cultivation follows

vi.                 Restoration of degraded land through watershed development projects and technologies for eco-restoration.

The participants included eight DFOs, eight Forests Officers of the rank of ACF and Range Officer and 14 representatives of JFMCs. Shri. K. Lyngdoh, Assistant Conservator of Forests, SF, Division, Jowai proposed a vote of thanks in the concluding session.

3.6       Experience sharing workshop of the Coordinators of Regional Centre and Officers of NAEB schemes and programmes at Kohima.

All necessary arrangements were made for holding the workshop at Kohima on 3^rd February, 2006 but due to disruption of air services, it could not be held on that date. The programme was rescheduled for 2^nd May, 2006.

3.7       Interactive workshop on prospects of developing linkages between JFMCs and industries/business houses for value addition and marketing of NTFPs under NAP scheme in Assam

A three-day workshop was organized during 6^th-8^th February, 2006 at Assam State Zoo Herbarium hall, Guwahati in collaboration with Assam State Forest Department. Shri R. P. Agarwalla, I.F.S., Chief Conservator of Forests, Social Forestry Assam cum Nodal Officer F. D. A. welcomed the participants and briefed the participants about aim and objective of the workshop. The programme was inaugurated by Shri S. Doley, I. F. S., Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Assam. There were three technical sessions in which lectures were delivered on the cultivation and importance of NTFP. The resource persons were drawn from the State Forest Department, Assam, TERI north-east, Assam State Medicinal Plant Board, two Business Houses, NEDFI and NABARD. The Coordinator and Joint Coordinator, RC-NAEB, Shillong, also attended the workshop. The Participants of the workshop included two Conservator of Forests, eight DFOs, 26 Junior Level Forest Officials and 17 JFMC representatives. The workshop ended with the vote of thanks by Sri S. K. Bora, I.F.S., Divisional Forest officer, Guwahati Social Forestry Division.