Guardians of the Green: Tribals | 23 May 2024

For centuries, tribal communities have lived in harmony with nature, preserving the delicate balance of forests and their rich biodiversity. Forests are the lungs of our planet, providing essential ecosystem services and sustaining life on Earth. However, the relentless pursuit of development and industrialization has often come at the cost of environmental degradation, leading to the rapid depletion of forest resources.

As we confront the pressing challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, it is imperative that we embrace the wisdom of tribal communities and integrate their traditional ecological knowledge into modern conservation efforts along with their empowerment. By learning from their sustainable practices and involving them in decision-making processes, we can forge a path towards a more sustainable future.

What Roles Tribal Population Play in Forest Conservation?

• Sustainable Resource Utilization: Tribal communities have developed sustainable methods of resource extraction from forests.
  • Every resource collection practice done by Kadars tribes of South India, whether honey, firewood, resin, or herbs, is designed to allow for regeneration.
  • The Bhotias of Central Himalayas inspect the maturity of leaves before harvesting medicinal plants to prevent overharvesting.
• Preservation of Sacred Groves: Many tribes consider certain forest areas as sacred groves dedicated to folk deities.
  • The Garasia tribes in Sirohi district, Rajasthan have preserved patches of forests termed sacred groves, protecting threatened plant species listed in the IUCN Red List.
• Rotational Farming and Grazing: Tribes like the Gond, Pradhan, and Baiga of Madhya Pradesh practice Utera farming, where the next crop is sown before harvesting the primary one, utilizing existing soil moisture.
  • They also follow the Badi cropping system, planting fruit trees along the periphery to prevent soil erosion.
• Sustainable Fishing Practices: Unlike harmful methods like dynamiting, tribes employ sustainable fishing techniques.
  • The Wancho and Nocte tribes of Tirap district, Arunachal Pradesh create obstructions in streams using bamboo and stones to trap fish, distributing the catch among the community (Bheta method).
• Wildlife Protection through Beliefs and Totems: Tribal beliefs and totems restrict the culling of certain animals and plants.
  • For the Adi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, tigers, sparrows, and pangolins are well-wishers of humankind and are not hunted.
• Community-based Conservation Efforts: Some tribes have declared parts of their forest land as "Community Conserved Areas" governed by locals.
  • The Idu Mishmis have taken this step, while the Bishnoi Tiger Force, an environmental campaign group, actively fights against poaching and rescues injured animals in Rajasthan.

What are the Key Challenges Encountered by Tribals in India?

• Land Alienation and Displacement: Tribal communities have faced widespread displacement due to various development projects, such as mining, dams, and infrastructure projects, leading to the loss of their traditional lands and disruption of their way of life.
  • For instance, the Dongria Kondh tribes persons of Odisha allege they have been unfairly targeted for resisting bauxite mining plans in Niyamgiri Hills.
• Lack of Implementation of Forest Rights Act: The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, aimed to recognize the rights of forest-dwelling communities over land and resources.
  • However, its implementation has been slow and ineffective, with many tribes facing delays, harassment, and illegal evictions.
  • For example, in 2019, the Supreme Court ordered the eviction of over 1 million forest-dwelling families, including tribal communities.
• Threats to Traditional Livelihood Practices: Traditional livelihood practices of tribal communities, such as shifting cultivation, hunting, and gathering, are increasingly under threat due to conservation policies and restrictions imposed by forest departments.
  • The Van Gujjars, a semi-nomadic pastoral community in the Himalayas, have faced attempts by forest departments to restrict their entry into forests, which is essential for their transhumance practices.
• Loss of Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Erosion: With the younger generation of tribals migrating to urban areas in search of better opportunities, there is a risk of losing the traditional knowledge and practices passed down through generations.
  • This erosion of cultural identity and knowledge systems poses a significant challenge to the conservation of forests and biodiversity.
• Impact of Climate Change: Tribal communities, heavily dependent on natural resources, are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
  • For instance, the Khasi tribe in Meghalaya has witnessed a decline in their traditional agricultural practices due to changing rainfall patterns and temperature increases.

What Measures can be Adopted to Integrate Tribal Empowerment with Forest Conservation?

• Eco-tourism Initiatives: Promoting eco-tourism initiatives led by tribal communities can provide them with alternative livelihood opportunities while preserving their cultural heritage and traditional knowledge.
  • The Khonoma village in Nagaland, managed by the Angami tribe, is a successful example of community-based eco-tourism, where the tribe has preserved their traditional practices and forests while generating income from tourism.
• Tribal Forest Guardians Program: Implementing a "Tribal Forest Guardians" program, where members of tribal communities are trained and employed as forest guards or eco-guides.
  • This approach can leverage their intimate knowledge of the local ecosystems, promote ownership, and provide sustainable livelihoods.
• Tribal Knowledge Banks: Documenting and integrating traditional ecological knowledge of tribal communities into modern conservation strategies.
  • For instance, the sustainable agricultural practices of the Apatani tribe in Arunachal Pradesh, such as their rice-fish cultivation system, can be studied and adapted in other regions.
  • It can also provide valuable insights into identifying and conserving rare and medicinal plant species.
• Forest Product Value Addition and Marketing: Establishing value-addition and marketing initiatives for forest products collected by tribal communities.
  • This could involve setting up processing units for products like medicinal plants, honey, and handicrafts, as well as creating direct market linkages for these value-added products.
  • This approach can provide sustainable livelihoods while incentivizing the conservation of forest resources by the tribes.
  • Hakki Pikki tribe’s Adiwasi Herbal Hair Oil can be an excellent role model.
• Participatory Forest Management: Promoting participatory forest management models, where tribal communities are actively involved in decision-making processes related to forest conservation and management.
  • The Joint Forest Management (JFM) program in India can be strengthened by ensuring greater representation and decision-making powers for tribal communities, recognizing their traditional knowledge and practices.