Research Studies



4. RESEARCH STUDIES


4.1 Study on best practices of shifting cultivation in Meghalaya


This study was approved in the work programme of 2008-09 and completed this year. The shifting cultivation practices by the Khasi, Karbi and Garo community in Meghalaya were studied to analyze and document the traditional and modern conservation measures of this age old practice. Village level (Participatory Rural Appraisals and Focused Group Discussion)/and household survey approach were adopted for the study. It was observed that a variety of conservation measures are followed by these communities for enhancing sustainability of shifting cultivation. Some of the remarkable conservation measures recorded during the study include: use of cover crops, retention of trees for fuelwood and timber, zero tillage, use of poles for soil conservation and fallow management. The Garo community of Sasatgre and Chekwatgre villages was found to be more traditional than Khasi and Karbi communities. Based on the study it was inferred that agricultural practice recommended on the slopes of this region can adopt the measures followed by these tribes to make the same more productive and sustainable.

Traditional soil conservation practice in shifting cultivation areas
Traditional soil conservation practice in shifting cultivation areas


4.2 Study on typology and institutional arrangements pertaining to community conserved forests of Meghalaya


The study is aimed to identify the typology of community forests, traditional institution and traditional governance in Meghalaya. Relevant literature survey has been completed. The study site has been selected after extensive field visits by the research team of the Regional Centre in several places of East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and West Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya. Photographic documentation of the sites visited and preliminary discussion with the local people that included the village head and elders were done before selecting the areas. The methods used in the study comprised of household survey, PRA exercises, phytosociological studies and resource mapping. Questionnaires for village and household survey have been prepared. Primary data relating to phytosociological studies have been completed for the two clusters in West Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills districts and the data are being compiled and analyzed. Resource map of the villages has been prepared with the help of the villagers. The field work concerning the other two clusters of villages i.e. Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills have been temporarily suspended due to heavy rainfall.

4.3 Study on typology and institutional arrangements pertaining to community conserved forests of Mizoram


The study is being taken up to find out the need, access, drawbacks, power and control of traditional institution in community forest management. Five districts of Mizoram viz. Aizawl, Mamit, Champhai, Lunglei, Lawngtlai are selected for the study. PRA technique is used to study the role of institutions in managing the community forests. Interview and questionnaires methods are also used to collect information from the local people. Species compositions of the community forests area are also being studied using quadrat method to understand the vegetation of the community forests. Studies in two districts have already been completed and preliminary analysis of results of the study so far revealed:
i. The Mizo tribe have been protecting and conserving biodiversity under the initiatives of indigenous community institution viz., Young Mizo Association (YMA).
ii. Young Lai Association (YLA) in Lawngtlai and Saiha District of South Mizoram, Green Mizoram Movement (Lunglei District) etc are other institutions which play active role in management and protection of community forests.
iii. The history of protection and management of community forests in Mizoram dates back to pre independence days. Until recently, each and every village had its own forest reserves which are known as ‘Safety Reserves’.
iv. Some of the common plants in the community forests are: Albizzia chinensis (Vang), Aporusa octandra (Chhawntual), Artocarpus heterophyllus (Lamkhuang), Calophyllum polyanthum (Sentezel), Castanopsis tribuloides (Thingsia), Erythrina variegate (Fartuah), Ficus semicordata(Theipui), Helicia excelsa (Sialhma), Ostodes paniculata (Beltur), Phoebe hainesiana (Bul), Pinus kesiya (Far), Quercus polystachya (Thil), Schima wallichii (Khiang) and Syzygium fruticosum (Theichhawl).
v. Institutional rules for conservation and management of community forests varied from place to place. Few important traditional institutional rules are: Collection of forest produce for private use is permissible while collection of forest resources for commercial purpose is prohibited. The firewood is collected mostly from dead, dying and fallen trees, but no fresh felling is allowed. The village authority sometimes authorizes the people to collect firewood and thatch grass from the earmarked areas on a head load basis for a stipulated period. The study is under progress.

4.4 Study on typology and institutional arrangements pertaining to community conserved forests of Nagaland


The study is aimed to identify the typology of community forests, traditional institution and traditional governance in Nagaland. The methods opted in the study comprised of household survey, PRA exercises, phytosociological studies and resource mapping. The first phase of the survey and documentation has been conducted in Mokokchung and Phek districts of Nagaland. Tetsumi (Phek), Enhulumi (Phek), Monsenymti (Mokokchung) and Longkhum(Mokokchung) villages have been selected for detailed study. So far the major findings from this study are:
i. In Phek district traditionally the village priest (Mewu) was the head and everything was done under his guidance and approval. There were nine Chisemi (priest clan) in the village. Nowadays the village council is responsible for taking care and implementing laws and regulations in these villages. A village Biodiversity Conservation Board is also established in Enhulumi village by the villagers themselves to look into all the aspects of the conservation of village forest.
ii. In Mokokchung district, the Aula is the Head and along with the Tatars, major decisions are taken. This set up also comprise of Pangsong (young soldier like), Mapangsers (persons who help in transferring informations), and Sanphor (Party responsible to take action). Today all the matters relating to control and regulation of the forest resources lies with the Aula and the village chairman.
iii. Some of the laws and regulations framed to protect and conserve the community forests are: No individual is allowed to extract any forest product without prior permission; Hunting is strictly prohibited and burning of the forest is completely banned (Tetsumi village).
iv. The Sacred grooves were there in earlier times. People used to worship the forest with eggs, animals like chicken, cocks etc. However, it is no more practiced after coming of Christianity.
The study is under progress and more information relating to the typology and institutional arrangement will be incorporated in due course.

4.5 Study on best practices for harvesting and processing of selected NTFPs of Assam


The study was undertaken with an aim to investigate the various practices related to the harvesting and processing of selected NTFPs of Assam. The study is being conducted in the three districts namely, Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj districts of Barak Valley, Southern Assam. Barak Valley has a good number of ethnic communities who are dependent on the forest produce for their livelihoods. The methods for the study involved participatory data collection with the villagers on their socio-economic condition, role of local communities in the trade, market survey; interview with villagers, MFP Mahaldars, persons holding power of attorney of the mahals and other people associated with the trade, discussions with the forest officials and collection of secondary data. The study so far revealed:

i. Among the three districts selected for the present study, only Hailakandi and Karimganj districts have the functional Minor Forest Produce Mahals in the Valley as of now. No MFP mahal is functioning in Cachar district now which has been defunct for past few years due to various reasons. Different types of mahals existing in the area were documented and these are MFP Mahals, Thatch mahals, Bazal bamboo mahal and Bazar mahal that operate in the Hailakandi forest division. The areas of extraction of the NTFPs are the Reserved Forests (RF) and the Unclassed State Forest (USF).
ii. The study revealed that Broom (Thysanolaena maxima), Gondhi root (Homalomena aromatica), Nageswar flower (Meusa ferrea), Chalmugra (Hydnocarpus kurzii), Shukchini (Smilax sp.), Kapur kachri (Hedichium spicatum), Aamla (Emblica officinalis), Bohera (Terminalia belerica), Kitta patta (Phrynium capitatum), Horitoki (Terminalia chebula), Thunimankini (Centella asiatica), Yasthimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Sethmul (local name), Dhuna (Canarium sp.) and Tula (Bombax ceiba) are some of the major non timber forest produce found in the region. All these NTFPs go to places like Delhi and Calcutta and are being used for various purposes.
The study is under progress and more informations relating to the harvesting and processing of NTFPs will be incorporated in due course.

4.6 Study on valuation of goods and services emanating from the community forests of Meghalaya


The study on valuation of goods and services emanating from the community forests is being conducted with the aim to identify different goods and services emerging from the community forests and to estimate the monetized and non-monetized values of different goods and services. The study also aims to understand the equity and benefit sharing of goods derived from community forests. Relevant literature survey has been completed. The study site has been selected after extensive field visits by the research team of the Regional Centre in several places of East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and West Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya. Photographic documentation of the sites visited and preliminary discussion with the local people that included the village head and elders were done before selecting the areas. The methods opted in the study comprised of household survey, PRA exercises, phytosociological studies and resource mapping. Questionnaires for village and household survey have been prepared. Primary data relating to socio-economic and phytosociological studies have been completed for the two clusters in West Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills districts and the data are being compiled and analyzed. Resource map of the villages has been prepared with the help of the villagers. The field work concerning the other two clusters of villages i.e. Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills have been temporarily suspended due to heavy rainfall.