Villagers in the remote Khatarshnong region of East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya are using traditional methods to build living root bridges. Due to frequent cloudbursts and fast-flowing mountain torrents, timber crossings get destroyed and isolated hamlets lose access to basic healthcare and primary markets.
Village elders and youth are training Ficus elastica aerial roots to create living pedestrian bridges. The process involves weaving young root tendrils through hollowed-out betel nut trunks positioned across streams. This guides the root system toward the opposite bank over a cycle of 15 to 20 years, eventually forming a self-repairing bridge that gains strength with time.
Local village councils have established strict regulations to prevent upstream logging and canopy thinning to protect the parent fig trees. Unlike concrete infrastructure, which is vulnerable to seismic shifts and monsoon flash floods, these living root pathways serve as sustainable, indigenous alternatives. The project highlights how traditional botanical knowledge is being used to anchor fragile riverbanks and maintain permanent connectivity in deep, isolated valleys.
