Khasi Hills REDD+: India’s First Plan Vivo Community Carbon Project
The Khasi Hills REDD+ project in Meghalaya is India's first Plan Vivo-certified community-led forest carbon initiative. Indigenous Khasi communities manage 27,000 ha of forest under REDD+ principles.
The Khasi Hills REDD+ project in Meghalaya is India’s first community-led forest carbon initiative certified under the international Plan Vivo Standard. Spread across about 27,000 hectares of subtropical broadleaf forest in the East Khasi Hills district, the project mobilises ten indigenous Khasi himas (traditional kingdoms) to protect, restore and sustainably manage their community-owned forests in line with the UN-backed REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) framework. Launched in 2011 and certified by Plan Vivo in 2013, the Khasi Hills REDD+ project has since avoided over 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, restored sacred groves, and channelled carbon-credit revenues back to the participating communities. The Khasi Hills REDD+ project is now a frequent reference point in Indian climate policy discussions and a strong UPSC topic linking climate change, forestry, indigenous rights and community institutions.
The Khasi Hills REDD+ project is significant for three reasons. First, it is community-owned and managed end-to-end — not a state or private project superimposed on indigenous land. Second, it operates under the matrilineal Khasi traditional governance system, which gives clan and hima institutions the legal authority to manage forests under Meghalaya’s Sixth Schedule autonomous district council framework. Third, it is one of the few REDD+ projects globally that has successfully demonstrated permanence, additionality, leakage control and community benefit-sharing at scale.
What is REDD+
REDD+ stands for “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries”. It is a framework adopted under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at COP-13 in Bali (2007) and consolidated through the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ at COP-19 (2013).
Five REDD+ Activities
- Reducing emissions from deforestation
- Reducing emissions from forest degradation
- Conservation of forest carbon stocks
- Sustainable management of forests
- Enhancement of forest carbon stocks (afforestation and reforestation)
The “plus” (+) adds the three latter activities to the original REDD focus on deforestation alone.
REDD+ Safeguards
Cancun Safeguards (COP-16, 2010) require REDD+ projects to respect:
- Sovereignty and existing national forest law
- Transparent and effective forest governance
- Rights of indigenous peoples and local communities
- Full and effective participation
- Biodiversity conservation, no perverse incentives
- Address risks of reversals
- Reduce displacement of emissions (leakage)
India’s REDD+ Strategy
India submitted its National REDD+ Strategy to UNFCCC in 2018 and the Forest Reference Level (FRL) in 2019. The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is the nodal scientific agency.
The Khasi Hills Setting
The East Khasi Hills district lies in central Meghalaya, on the southern edge of the Shillong Plateau. The terrain is rugged, with limestone karst topography, deep gorges, and dense humid subtropical forest. Annual rainfall ranges from 2,500 mm to over 11,000 mm at Mawsynram, the wettest place on Earth.
The Khasi Hima System
A hima is a traditional Khasi confederacy headed by an elected chief (syiem) and a council of elders. The hima holds traditional rights over forests, water and land. Under the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) legally recognises hima authority. This unbroken governance tradition is the institutional backbone of the Khasi Hills REDD+ project.
Khasi Sacred Groves
Khasi culture preserves Law Kyntang — sacred groves where felling, hunting, and even taking a leaf is forbidden. Mawphlang and Mawsmai sacred groves are among India’s most pristine forest patches, with cathedral-like rhododendron and oak. The project builds on this living conservation tradition.
Project Structure
The Khasi Hills REDD+ project was developed jointly by:
- The Ka Synjuk Ki Hima Arliang Wah Umiam Mawphlang Welfare Society — a federation of ten Khasi himas that owns the forests and the carbon rights
- Community Forestry International (CFI) — a US-based NGO providing technical and design support
- Bethany Society — a Shillong-based NGO supporting capacity-building
- Validation and verification by Plan Vivo Foundation, a Scotland-based standard for smallholder forest carbon
Project Area
About 27,139 ha of community-owned forest in the central Umiam watershed, drained by the Umiam river that feeds Shillong’s water supply and hydropower. The area encompasses sacred groves, supply forests, and community grazing land.
Activities
- Patrolling and protection by community guards
- Assisted natural regeneration in degraded patches
- Closure of unsustainable charcoal kilns
- Promotion of alternative livelihoods — homestead horticulture, beekeeping, broom grass cultivation
- Strengthening hima-level forest management committees
- Annual monitoring of forest cover via satellite and ground plots
Plan Vivo Standard
Plan Vivo is one of the world’s oldest forestry carbon standards, specifically designed for smallholder and community-led projects in low- and middle-income countries. Unlike Verra (VCS) or Gold Standard, Plan Vivo:
- Issues “Plan Vivo Certificates” (PVCs), each equivalent to one tonne of CO2
- Requires 60 per cent of net revenue to flow back to participating communities
- Has strong social and biodiversity co-benefit requirements
- Allows long-term agreements (project duration up to 30 years)
The Khasi Hills REDD+ project sells PVCs to buyers including European corporates and individual offset purchasers, generating roughly USD 200,000-300,000 annually.
Outcomes (2013-2025)
- Over 1.5 million tonnes CO2 sequestered or avoided
- 27,000 ha of forest under active community management
- 60-plus villages directly benefiting
- Forest cover stabilised and net gain in restored zones
- Community institutions strengthened
- Women’s self-help groups built around horticulture
- Recognised as a benchmark by IUCN, CBD and UNFCCC
REDD+ in India More Broadly
India’s forests sequester about 7 per cent of national CO2 emissions annually. The National REDD+ Strategy (2018) sets out:
- Sub-national reference levels at the state level
- Forest carbon monitoring using satellite imagery and the India State of Forest Report (ISFR)
- Community-based REDD+ pilots in Mizoram, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh
- Integration with the Green India Mission (under the National Action Plan on Climate Change) and the CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority)
Forest Cover in India
According to ISFR 2023, India’s forest and tree cover is 25.17 per cent of geographical area. Meghalaya alone has 76 per cent forest cover — among the highest of any state, much of it under community ownership.
Why Community Forest Management Works in Khasi Hills
The Khasi Hills REDD+ project succeeds because of pre-existing community institutions, not in spite of them. Five factors:
- Customary tenure — hima ownership is uncontested and legally recognised
- Matrilineal Khasi society — strong female participation in governance and resource decisions
- Sacred groves tradition — conservation already part of daily ritual life
- Sixth Schedule autonomy — district council can pass binding regulations
- External technical bridge — Bethany Society and CFI provide carbon-market access
For wider context see our pillar on biodiversity hotspots of India — the Khasi Hills sit within the Indo-Burma hotspot.
Challenges and Risks
Permanence
REDD+ projects must guarantee permanence — that the carbon stays sequestered. Fire, illegal logging, or governance breakdown could reverse gains. The project maintains a 20 per cent buffer of unsold credits.
Leakage
If protection in one area pushes deforestation to a neighbouring area, the project loses credit. The Khasi Hills team monitors a 35 km leakage belt.
Market Volatility
Voluntary carbon market prices fluctuate. Average price of a Plan Vivo PVC has ranged from USD 6 to USD 22 per tonne since 2013.
Equity
Distribution of carbon revenues across heterogeneous hima communities is politically sensitive. Independent review confirms that the federation has maintained equitable distribution.
Comparison with Other Indian REDD+ Projects
| Project | State | Type | Standard | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khasi Hills REDD+ | Meghalaya | Community | Plan Vivo | 2011 |
| Mikir Hills (proposed) | Assam | Community | TBD | Concept |
| Aravali Plus | Rajasthan | State-led restoration | Verra exploration | 2022 |
| Himachal Forest Ecosystems Climate Proof | Himachal Pradesh | State-NGO | Verra | 2014 |
The Khasi Hills REDD+ remains the deepest and longest-running community-led example.
India’s Climate Architecture and REDD+
REDD+ contributes to India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. India has committed to:
- Reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030
- Achieving 50 per cent cumulative installed power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030
- Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030
The Khasi Hills REDD+ contributes directly to the third target.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Khasi Hills REDD+ project?
The Khasi Hills REDD+ project is India’s first Plan Vivo-certified community forest carbon project, covering about 27,000 hectares of forest owned by ten Khasi himas in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, launched in 2011.
What does REDD+ stand for?
REDD+ stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, plus conservation, sustainable management, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. It is a UNFCCC mechanism for forest-based climate action.
What is the Plan Vivo Standard?
Plan Vivo is a Scotland-based carbon standard designed for smallholder and community-led forest projects. It requires at least 60 per cent of net carbon revenue to flow back to communities and emphasises social and biodiversity co-benefits.
What is a Khasi hima?
A hima is a traditional Khasi confederacy headed by a syiem (chief) and a council of elders, with customary authority over forests, water and land. Hima institutions are legally recognised under the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule via the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.
How much carbon has the Khasi Hills REDD+ project sequestered?
Over 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent have been sequestered or avoided since project inception in 2011.
Why is the Khasi Hills REDD+ important for UPSC?
It connects climate policy (REDD+ under UNFCCC), indigenous governance (Sixth Schedule, hima institutions), forest cover (ISFR), India’s NDCs under the Paris Agreement, and biodiversity (Indo-Burma hotspot) — all in one case study.
What are sacred groves in the Khasi Hills?
Sacred groves (Law Kyntang) are forest patches considered sacred by Khasi communities, where felling, hunting and even leaf collection are forbidden. Mawphlang and Mawsmai are the most famous examples and pre-date formal forest law.
What are India’s NDC targets relevant to REDD+?
India has committed to creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. Projects like Khasi Hills REDD+ directly contribute to this goal.