The vital role played by Tribal Communities in Preserving Forests

#### GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Environmental Conservation

Source: IE

Context: Droupadi Murmu (in this article) emphasized the vital role of preserving forests and advocated for listening to tribal communities, whose collective wisdom can guide ecological sustainability.

About Scheduled Tribes in India:

Aspects | Description

The Constitution of India does not define the term ‘tribe’. Article 342 (i) empowers the President to specify Scheduled Tribes. Fifth Schedule establishes Tribes’ Advisory Councils. STs constitute 8.6% of the Population (census 2011). Draft National Tribal Policy, 2006 records 698 STs in India. Bhil is the largest tribal group (38%) followed by Gonds. Madhya Pradesh has the highest tribal Population in India. Santhal are the oldest Tribes in India.

According to Lokur Committee (1965): | 1. Indication of Primitive Traits

1.Distinctive Culture
2.Shyness of Contact with the Community at Large
3.Geographical Isolation
4.Backwardness

Educational & Cultural Safeguards | Article 15(4): Special provisions for advancement of STs.

Article 29: Protection of Interests of Minorities (includes STs).

Article 46: Promotion of educational and economic interests.

Article 350: Right to conserve distinct Language, Script or Culture.

Political Safeguards | Article 330: Reservation of seats for STs in Lok Sabha.

Article 332: Reservation of seats for STs in State Legislatures

Article 243: Reservation of seats in Panchayats.

Administrative Safeguard | Article 275: Grant of special funds for welfare and administration.

Roles Tribal Population Play in Forest Conservation:

Roles | Examples

Eco-tourism Initiatives | Khonoma village in Nagaland, managed by the Angami tribe, promotes community-based eco-tourism while preserving forests and traditional practices.

Tribal Forest Guardians Program | Implementation of a “Tribal Forest Guardians” program, training tribal members as forest guards or eco-guides, leveraging their local ecological knowledge.

Tribal Knowledge Banks | Documenting traditional ecological knowledge, like the rice-fish cultivation system of the Apatani tribe in Arunachal Pradesh, and integrating it into conservation strategies.

Forest Product Value Addition and Marketing | Establishing processing units for forest products and creating market linkages, exemplified by the Hakki Pikki tribe’s Adiwasi Herbal Hair Oil.

Preservation of Sacred Groves | Garasia tribes in Sirohi district, Rajasthan preserve forests as sacred groves, protecting threatened species.

Rotational Farming and Grazing | Gond, Pradhan, and Baiga tribes of Madhya Pradesh practice Utera farming and Badi cropping system.

Sustainable Fishing Practices | Wancho and Nocte tribes of Tirap district, Arunachal Pradesh employ bamboo and stone obstructions for fishing.

Wildlife Protection through Beliefs and Totems | Adi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh do not hunt animals like tigers, sparrows, and pangolins due to cultural beliefs.

Community-based Conservation Efforts | Idu Mishmis declare forest areas as “Community Conserved Areas”; Bishnoi Tiger Force combats poaching in Rajasthan.

Key Challenges Encountered by Tribals in India:

• Land Alienation and Displacement: Tribes face displacement due to development projects like mining and dams, disrupting their traditional lands.

• Lack of Implementation of Forest Rights Act: Slow implementation of the Act has led to delays and harassment, with many facing illegal evictions.

• Threats to Traditional Livelihood Practices: Conservation policies and restrictions have endangered traditional practices like shifting cultivation and hunting.

• Loss of Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Erosion: Migration to urban areas risks the loss of traditional knowledge and cultural practices.

• Impact of Climate Change: Tribes, reliant on natural resources, are vulnerable to climate change impacts, affecting agriculture and livelihoods.

• Lack of Education: Inadequate infrastructure and language barriers hinder tribal education, leading to a preference for immediate employment over schooling.

• Health and Nutrition Issues: Economic backwardness results in health problems and malnutrition among tribal populations.

• Gender Issues: Environmental degradation and commercialization affect gender roles and create societal challenges.

• Erosion of Identity: Modern institutions conflict with traditional tribal laws, leading to concerns about preserving cultural identity and language extinction.

Solutions for Tribal Forest Conservation:

• Listen to Tribal Communities: Incorporate tribal wisdom for ecologically sustainable practices.

• Amend Curriculum: Adapt forest service training to address climate change and conservation challenges.

• Learn and Propagate: Engage with tribal communities, learn from their practices, and propagate their sustainable methods.

• Balance Tradition and Modernity: Acknowledge and integrate traditional knowledge with modern conservation approaches.

• Participatory Forest Management: Strengthening participatory forest management models like Joint Forest Management (JFM) by ensuring tribal communities’ active involvement in decision-making processes.

Insta Links:

• Indigenous Knowledge – Konda Reddi tribe

• The ‘Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights Act)’

Prelims Link:

Q.1 Consider the following pairs: (UPSC 2013)

| Tribe | State

1.| Limboo (Limbu) | Sikkim
2.| Karbi | Himachal Pradesh
3.| Dongaria Kondh | Odisha
4.| Bonda | Tamil Nadu

Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: A

Q.2 Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India: (UPSC 2019)

• PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.

• A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.

• There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.

• Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2, 3 and 4

(d) 1, 3 and 4

Ans: C

3 Under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, who shall be the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both? (UPSC 2013)

(a) State Forest Department

(b) District Collector/Deputy Commissioner

(d) Gram Sabha

Ans: D

• At the national level, which ministry is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006?

(a) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (b) Ministry of Panchayati Raj (c) Ministry of Rural Development (d) Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Ans: D