12 June 2024 – The Indian Express

Tribal Groups in India

• Tribal groups have coexisted peacefully with the environment for millennia, protecting the forests’ delicate balance and abundant biodiversity. since the lungs of our planet, forests are vital to life since it provides necessary ecosystem functions. But the unrelenting drive for industrialization and development has frequently come at the expense of environmental deterioration, which has accelerated the depletion of forest resources.

• It is crucial that we accept the wisdom of tribal tribes and incorporate their traditional ecological knowledge into contemporary conservation efforts along with their empowerment as we face the urgent issues of climate change and environmental degradation. We can pave the way for a more sustainable future by taking note of their sustainable practices and incorporating them in the decision-making process.

What Parts Does Tribal Population Play in the Preservation of Forests?

• Sustainable Resource Utilisation: Tribal communities have created environmentally friendly techniques for harvesting forest resources.
• The Kadars tribes of South India gather resources in a way that allows for regeneration, whether it be honey, firewood, resin, or herbs.
• To avoid overharvesting, the Bhotias of the Central Himalayas check the leaves’ level of ripeness before gathering medicinal herbs.
• Preservation of Sacred Groves: A lot of cultures regard specific forest regions as sacred groves honouring folk gods.
• The Garasia tribes of Rajasthan’s Sirohi district have protected endangered plant species placed on the IUCN Red List by preserving areas of woodland known as sacred groves.
• Rotational farming and grazing: Utera farming, which uses the soil moisture already present, is a method carried out by tribes such as the Gond, Pradhan, and Baiga of Madhya Pradesh.
• In order to stop soil erosion, they also plant fruit trees around the periphery using the Badi cropping system.
• Sustainable Fishing Methods: Tribes use sustainable fishing methods, as opposed to destructive ones like dynamiting.
• In the Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh, the Wancho and Nocte tribes use bamboo and stones to impede streams in order to trap fish, then share the catch with the community (Bheta technique).
• Protecting Wildlife via Beliefs and Totems: Certain animals and plants cannot be killed because of tribal beliefs and totems.
• The Adi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh believe that tigers, sparrows, and pangolins are good creatures and should not be hunted.
• Locally administered “Community Conserved Areas” are areas of forest land that certain tribes have designated as their own.
• The Bishnoi Tiger Force, an environmental advocacy group, vigorously combats poaching and rescues injured animals in Rajasthan; the Idu Mishmis have taken this step.

What are the Main Obstacles Indian Tribal People Face?

• Land Alienation and relocation: Due to a variety of development projects, including mining, dams, and infrastructure projects, tribal groups have experienced extensive relocation, which has resulted in the loss of their customary lands and disruption of their way of life.
• For example, the people of Odisha’s Dongria Kondh tribe claim they have been unfairly targeted for opposing proposals for bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri Hills.
• The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, sought to acknowledge the rights of people that reside in forests over land and resources, however it was not implemented.
• Nevertheless, many tribes have experienced delays, intimidation, and wrongful evictions as a result of its sluggish and ineffectual execution.
• For instance, the Supreme Court mandated the eviction of more than a million families, including tribal populations, who lived in forests in 2019.
• Threats to Traditional Livelihood Practices: Forest departments’ conservation policies and regulations are placing a growing amount of pressure on indigenous populations’ traditional means of subsistence, including shifting farming, hunting, and gathering.
• Forest departments have attempted to limit the access of the semi-nomadic pastoral Van Gujjar population in the Himalayas, which is necessary for their transhumance activities, into forests.
• Loss of Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Erosion: As younger tribal people migrate to cities in quest of better prospects, there is a chance that the customs and knowledge that have been passed down over the years will be lost.
• The preservation of forests and biodiversity is seriously threatened by this breakdown of cultural identity and knowledge systems.
• Impact of Climate Change: Communities that are tribal are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change because they rely significantly on natural resources.
• For example, shifting patterns of rainfall and rising temperatures have led to a deterioration in the traditional farming practices of the Khasi tribe in Meghalaya.

What are the main issues facing India’s forests?

• Deforestation and Habitat Loss: According to a Utility Bidder research, India has experienced a sharp increase in deforestation between 2015 and 2020, coming in second only to Brazil.
• The main causes of deforestation are the growth of human settlements, the construction of infrastructure, and the conversion of forest area for mining and agriculture.
• For instance, it is anticipated that more than 21,000 mangrove trees in Maharashtra will be chopped down in order to build the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project.
• Illegal Logging and Timber traffic: India’s forests are still seriously threatened by illegal logging and the related timber traffic.
• Precious forest resources have been degraded as a result of the widespread illicit logging activities in the northeastern states, especially in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Arunachal Pradesh saw the seizure of a vehicle filled with lumber in January 2024.
• Human-Wildlife Conflicts: These conflicts have become more common as human settlements encroach on forested regions.
• Animals like tigers and elephants regularly wander into human areas, resulting in casualties and damage to property for both parties.
• For example, between 2014 and 2022, 3938 human lives were lost due to attacks by wild elephants, while many elephants were killed in revenge.
• Invasive Species: The native plants and animals of Indian forests are seriously threatened by the introduction of invasive alien species.
• The infamous invasive shrub Lantana camara has overtaken native species and changed the environment in large tracts of forests, especially in southern India.
• One of the most severely affected invasion hotspot locations, where Lantana camara is the dominant species, is the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats.
• Forest Fires: In India, forest fires—both natural and man-made—have grown to be a serious problem.
• Records from the forest inventory show that 54.40% of India’s woods are prone to sporadic fires.
• In addition to destroying priceless forest resources, these fires increase greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
• Climate Change: With rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events all adding to the stress on forest ecosystems, climate change is becoming a serious threat to Indian forests.
• For instance, it is anticipated that climate change could cause dramatic changes in vegetation patterns in the Western Ghats, a hotspot for biodiversity, possibly leading to the extinction of some indigenous species.

What Steps Can Be Taken to Combine Forest Conservation with Tribal Empowerment?

• Eco-tourism Initiatives: Supporting eco-tourism projects run by indigenous groups can give them a second source of income while protecting their customs and cultural heritage.
• The Angami tribe, which oversees the Khonoma hamlet in Nagaland, is a prime example of community-based ecotourism in action. The tribe has maintained their customs and woods while making money from visitors.
• The “Tribal Forest Guardians” programme will be put into place, and people of tribal communities will get training and employment as eco-guides or forest guards.
• This strategy can encourage ownership, make use of their in-depth understanding of the regional ecosystems, and offer stable sources of income.
• Tribal Knowledge Banks: Recording and incorporating tribal tribes’ traditional ecological knowledge into contemporary conservation tactics.
• For example, other places can study and implement the rice-fish production system used by the Apatani tribe in Arunachal Pradesh, which is an example of sustainable agricultural techniques.
• Additionally, it can offer insightful information about recognising and protecting uncommon and therapeutic plant species.
• Value-adding and Marketing of Forest goods: Creating marketing and value-adding programmes for forest goods that are gathered by indigenous groups.
• This could entail establishing processing facilities for goods like honey, handicrafts, and medicinal plants in addition to establishing direct market connections for these high-value products.
• This strategy can offer tribes sustainable means of subsistence while encouraging them to protect their forest resources.
• Adiwasi Herbal Hair Oil from the Hakki Pikki tribe can be a great example to follow.
• Encouraging forms of participatory forest management that engage tribal groups actively participating in the conservation and management decision-making processes of their forests.
• Enhancing the Joint Forest Management (JFM) initiative in India can be achieved through providing tribal groups with increased representation and decision-making authority, while acknowledging their customary knowledge and methods.