Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho assured government support for the implementation of the Community-based Sustainable Forest Management for Water Resources Conservation in Manipur (COSFOM) project during a meeting with officials of Germany’s KfW Development Bank and the project team on 13 October 2026.
The Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds charge of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, met the delegation at the Civil Secretariat in Mantripukhri. According to published reports, officials briefed him on the project’s objectives, progress and continued implementation.
Forest restoration and livelihood support
Nina Jantos, Portfolio Manager for Natural Resources and Climate, East and Southeast Asia, at KfW Development Bank, outlined the project’s targets, including the restoration of 21,800 hectares of degraded forests, strengthening upper watersheds and improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.
Jantos sought the state government’s assistance for the project’s smooth implementation and continuation. The Deputy Chief Minister acknowledged its work in ecological conservation and community development, including income-generating activities, community infrastructure and support for self-help groups. He assured the delegation of government support and necessary assistance.
Project supported through Indo-German cooperation
COSFOM is a Government of India development project supported by the German government through KfW under the Indo-German Programme on Climate Change Adaptation in the Himalaya.
The Manipur Forest Department implements the project, while the Community Forestry and Water Conservation Society-Manipur manages it. Technical support is provided by GFA Consulting Group in a consortium with Unique forestry and land use and IORA Ecological Solutions.
The project’s stated objectives are to improve or restore the climate resilience of upper watershed ecosystems and strengthen the adaptive capacity of forest-dependent communities through sustainable forest management and water resource conservation.
GFA’s current project listing identifies the implementation period as 2018–2027. It specifies three catchment areas: the Ukhrul Block of the Thoubal catchment in Ukhrul district, and the Imphal and Singda catchments in Kangpokpi district.
Watershed management and community participation
The project’s activities include sustainable forest management, stream management, spring-water conservation and biodiversity conservation, alongside support for livelihood strategies and income-generating opportunities.
Its four principal areas of work are participatory watershed planning, coordination and monitoring; restoration and sustainable management of upper watersheds; livelihood security and improvement; and capacity building for community-based watershed management.
The 13 October meeting was also attended by Dr. Bjoern Wode, Chief Technical Advisor, GFA Consulting Group; Saravanakumar Veerasivam, Sector Specialist for Natural Resource Management, KfW Office, New Delhi; L. Joykumar Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests and Project Director, COSFOM-KfW; Sanajaoba Khuraijam, Conservator of Forests and Chief Operating Officer, COSFOM-KfW; K. Hrishikesh Singh, Assistant Chief Technical Advisor, GFA Consulting Group; and Ajay Srivastava, Capacity Building and Training Officer, COSFOM-KfW.
