Welcome to Forests & Environment Department, Government of Meghalaya

Welcome to the Meghalayan Age. We currently live in the Meghalayan Age. The past 4,200 years of earth’s geological history have been officially classified as Meghalayan Age. A stalagmite from the Mawmluh Cave of Meghalaya has provided chemical signature as evidence for the beginning of Meghalayan age.

Meghalaya, the Abode of clouds, located in the hills of Eastern Sub-Himalayas was carved out of Assam as autonomous State on 2nd April, 1970 and was declared as full-fledged State on 21st January, 1972. It is bounded on the Northern and Eastern sides by the State of Assam.  On South and Western side, it shares a 423 Kms long international boundary with Bangladesh.

Meghalaya is endowed with enviable natural beauty and resources. Nature has blessed her with abundant rainfall, sun-shine, virgin dense forests, high plateaus, tumbling waterfalls and crystal-clear Rivers. Shillong the capital also known as the “Scotland of the East” set amidst a picturesque landscape of pine covered hills, rapid streams and captivating water falls provides a perfect getaway from the heat.  The rolling mists in the valleys, the undulating hills, numerous lakes, waterfalls, caves, sacred forests, dense forests, breath-taking scenic beauty makes the State overwhelmingly beautiful and one of the most favoured tourist destinations in the country. The towns of Cherrapunjee (Sohra) and Mawsynram, which are located on the Southern parts of the states receive very heavy rainfall and are amongst the wettest spots in the World. 

Against the National Goal to maintain two-third of the land area in hills and mountainous region of the country, the Forest and Tree cover in the State is 79.37 % covering 17,803 Sq.km. contributing 2.26 % of India’s Forest and Tree Cover. (As per State of Forest Report, 2017 published by FSI) Meghalaya stands in 4th position in terms of percentage of Forest Cover in the Country.  Due to varied topography, fertile soil, high rainfall and salubrious climate, the State supports rich natural resources and biodiversity. The State is part of Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and key area for biodiversity conservation due to species richness and high degree of endemism. The Meghalaya, a small State is quite different and unique compared to rest of the world.

Meghalaya is significant region as it represents transition zone between the Indian, Indo-Malayan, Indo-Chinese biogeographic region as well meeting place of Himalayan mountain with peninsular India

• Mawsynrem and Cherrapunjee are among the wettest places in the world
• Unique insect eating Pitcher plant (Nepenthes khasiana) found only in State.
• Part of Indo-Burma biodiversity hot spot and Identified as key area for biodiversity conservation due high species diversity and high level of endemism
• Indian Government nominated Garo hills Conservation Area covering Nokrek NP, Balpakkram NP, Siju WLS and RFs Tura peak, Rewak, Emangiri and Bagmara  for inclusion in tentative list of UNESCO World heritage Site
• Citrusindica which is mother of all citrus fruit in the world is endemic to Nokrek National Park and the locals call it by name memangnarang ('orange of the spirits').
• Five out of six floral species listed in the Schedule-VI of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 whose protection has been accorded highest priority, naturally occur in the State.
• Living Root Bridge which is a engineering marvel found at Nongriat village and Mawlynnong formed by Ficus elastic (India rubber tree).
• The Cherry tree which blooms during the Spring in rest of the world but it blooms in Shillong during Autumn. To mark the occasion the State celebrates India International Cherry Blossom Festival every year during autumn season to attract tourist to the State. 
• State has large number of sacred groves
• Cavers’ paradise, large number of caves, Worlds longest cave ‘Krem Puri’ (24 km long)
• Before the launch of Swacch Bharat Abhiyan by GOI, the Mawlynnong village was declared as the cleanest village in Asia in 2003 by Discover India magazine.
• Balpakram National Park - a land of mystery, resting place of spirits of the Dead, has many mysterious and unnatural phenomena that cannot be satisfactory explained by modern science and logic.
• Nokrek is also believed to be the home of Mande Burung (jungle man or ape man) and reported cases of sightings found in and around the villages of Nokrek.
• We currently live in the Meghalayan Age. The past 4,200 years of earth’s geological history have been officially classified as Meghalayan Age. A stalagmite from the Mawmluh Cave of Meghalaya has provided chemical signature as evidence for the beginning of Meghalayan age.