How long can Bangladesh’s indigenous Khasis sustain their forest

Bangladesh’s northeastern corner, as shown on Google Maps, features irregular green patches: pale green swaths and smaller deep green pockets.

In or around each deep green area lies a Khasi village, or punjee, with tin-roofed cottages on hillocks, indicating homes to one of Bangladesh’s Indigenous communities.

The Khasis live on betel leaf-based agroforestry, now strained by drought and erratic rainfall . To sustain, they seek incentives as they protect carbon-absorbing forests.

Gidison Pradhan Suchiang, president of Khasi Social Council – representing myntris or heads of 65 Khasi punjees in Sylhet region, tells Mongabay , “If we fail to continue with our livelihood, we will no longer protect the forests.”

How do the Khasis conserve these forests? Let’s step inside.

A va