In Uttarakhand, India, a citizens’ assembly has helped identify local needs, empower leaders and develop actionable forest management plans to address urgent environmental challenges.
This biodiverse region, a vital water source for Southeast Asia, faces severe environmental challenges: receding glaciers, erratic weather, forest degradation, and diminishing biodiversity. In response, the local NGO Himad Samiti is leading a participatory process with five villages, to conserve and rejuvenate forests by blending traditional practices with innovative strategies.
This initiative was developed through the Climate Democracy Accelerator (CDA), led by People Powered and the Open Government Partnership, which empowered local leaders with the knowledge and support needed to design a citizens' assembly. This assembly engaged the community in addressing urgent environmental challenges, resulting in forest management plans that will be implemented by Forest Councils - community-based institutions that serve as a vehicle to connect citizen participation with government.
