Supervisors:
Dr. R. K. Maikhuri GBPIHED Garhwal Unit, Srinagar
Summary:
The
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve is situated in Himalayan highlands
biogeographic province of India was established in 1988 under the
UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) for the conservation of
biological and cultural diversity. It consists of a central core zone
(624.62 km2) surrounded by a buffer zone (1612.12 km2).
In1992 it was declared as one of the world heritage site by World Heritage
Committee. Legally the reserve includes the areas of reserve forests,
civil forests and panchayat forests and individual farmlands. From the
geomorphological point of view, the buffer zone occupies the entire Rishi
Ganga catchment. A total of 17 villages are situated in the buffer zone of
NDBR, of which 10 villages fall in the Garhwal (district Chamoli) and 7
villages in Kumaon (district Pithoragarh and Almora). The present study
was carried out in the 10 buffer zone villages belonging to Chamoli
district of Garhwal Himalaya with a total population of 2253. The Nanda
Devi Biosphere Reserve is one such protected area where local people
inhabited in the buffer zone areas have been deprived of the traditional
uses of the natural resources from the reserve. Ignoring the dependence of
the local people for their subsistence needs has created conflicts between
protected area managers and the local people. The main issue of conflict
in this reserve was the right of the people to use the forest resources
which they were traditionally been collecting before the area was accorded
a status of national Park and Biosphere Reserve.
Hence, the debate
should not be between whether biodiversity should be maintained at the
cost of local inhabitants or local people should be allowed to exploit the
natural resources at the cost of biodiversity. Rather, conservation should
demonstrate how biodiversity can be optimally maintained while fulfilling
the needs of the local people.
Therefore, to understand the issues related to reserve people conflicts in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, an integrated study was undertaken in the buffer zone villages considering people perception and attitude towards the reserve establishment. In addition to this, the ecosystem function of the buffer zone villages considering different sub-system of the village such as agriculture, including medicinal plant cultivation, animal husbandry and domestic and forest sub-system as well as inter-linkages and interdependencies between the sub-system were evaluated and analyzed ecologically and economically. Such an analysis is expected to be a value for designing strategies for sustainable development of the buffer zone villages on one hand and conservation of biodiversity on the other.
Reserve-People conflicts
Reserve-people
conflicts in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) located in the Himalayan
highlands biogeographic province of India, were studied intensively over a
period of two year’s from 1995 to 1997, through socio-economic, cultural
and attitudinal surveys. The impact of reserve establishment and people
perception towards development priorities were also studied through
interactive discussions with the local people. The reserve had been
established for the conservation of Moschus
chrysogaster (musk deer), Panthera
uncia (snow leopard), Lophophorus
inpejanus (monal pheasant) and many important flora of immense value
and protects some of the unique high altitude and alpine habitats in
Indian Himalaya. The results showed that before creation of national park
in 1982 and reserve in 1988, people in the area were fully dependent on
the reserve for the collection of resources like medicinal and aromatic
plants, fuel, fodder, leaf litter, timber, livestock grazing, working as a
tour guides and porters with the expedition team, etc. however, now there
is growing unrest among the local communities, who are being denied access
to resources after the creation of the Biosphere Reserve, on which they
have traditional rights to utilize since time immemorial.
The results of attitudinal survey indicate that the majority of the
respondents (70%) have negative attitude, towards the policies adopted by
government for conservation. Among many reason of conflict, the main was
ban on the expeditions to the Nanda Devi peak. The findings of these
results suggest that the main reason of the growing people-government
conflict was the lack of consideration on the question of providing
alternative livelihood means following curtailment of people’s rights in
the area. So it is necessary to find out short and long term solutions to
reserve people conflicts. Promotion of medicinal plant cultivation,
degraded land rehabilitation, improve economy through sustainable
harvesting of non-timber forest products, eco-tourism and extension
programmes may be some feasible options to be implemented in the NDBR to
resolve the conflicts.
Agriculture
The agroecosystem
functions of the lower (1900-2800m) and higher (2800-3600m) regions of the
buffer zone of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve were studied over a period of
two years. Four villages viz., Lata and Tolma from lower region and
Dronagiri and Malari from higher region were considered for the study.
Over 35 species of food crops comprising cereals, pseudocereals, millets,
pulses, oil seeds, vegetables etc. are grown in the traditional
agroecosystem of the region. But during recent past the area under
cultivation many of these crops has declined to a large extent. The
traditional crops such as Eleusine
coracana, Fagopyrum esculentum, Panicum miliaceum etc., have been
reduced to 25%-50% under cultivation during the last three decades due to
various reasons.
Rainfed cultivation on
steep terraced slopes is the predominant form of land use. About 7.8% of
the total cultivated land is irrigated. The grain/tuber and by product
yield (kg/ha) of all the crops was found maximum in the higher region of
the NDBR as compared to lower region. The crops such as Solanum
tuberosum, Phaseolus vulgaris, Fagopyrum spp. and Hordeum
himalayens are the common crops and cultivated in both the regions.
The annual energy output/input ration ranged between 0.97to 4.3 at lower
region and 1.5 to 4.9 at higher region of NDBR under rainfed condition.
However, under irrigated condition, the efficiency ratio was recorded
between 1.8to 6.3.
In general, the kharif
season crops practiced when all auxiliary output
were considered together, (such as by-product, herbaceous
vegetation, fruits, fuel from agroforestry trees etc.) at lower region is
found energetically efficient (output /input ratio 3.9) as compared to
rabi season crops at same region and kharif season at higher region. The
monetary output /input ratio of the kitchen garden crops was estimated to
be higher at both the regions than the kharif and rabi season crops. Among
the agricultural crops cultivated in the region Monetary output /input
ratio was obtained maximum for the mixed cropping of potato and kidney
bean at both the regions, with higher economic efficiency ratio (7.2) for
rainfed and irrigated conditions (7.6) at higher region. Across the
regions, the monetary output /input ratio was observed least for Hordeum
himalayense (0.59)at lower region.
The surplus of the
total agricultural produce was assessed to 27% (in Tolma village), and 87%
(Dronagiri village). This surplus is sold by the farmers to middlemen
traders. It was observed that while exporting traditional crops, the
farmers of the region are highly exploited by middlemen. After the
imposition of conservation policies in the region the damage caused by
wildlife to the crops has increased and accounted 4 per cent in malari
village to as high as 60 per cent in Tolma village. For the economic
betterment of the people in the region and conservation of the biological
resources, a comprehensive programme of conservation should be launched
considering improvement of agronomic yield and soil fertility, value
addition of the traditional crops creating proper marketing facilities etc.,
in the region.
Medicinal plants cultivation
Rich diversity of
medicinal plants growing under diverse environmental conditions occur in
the Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve. The Bhotiya tribal communities of this
region have been collecting and using large number of medicinal plants
from the wild for their multifaceted use since time immemorial. But during
the recent past, due to over exploitation of these medicinal plants to
meet the increasing demand of the pharmaceutical industries, their number
have drastically reduced, leaving little scope for their natural
regeneration. Therefore, cultivation of these valuable species is
certainly warranted.
Although various research organizations have been working on different aspects of medicinal plants over several years and also advocating their cultivation in the region but unfortunately very few of them have made any meaningful efforts towards cultivation and surveying the areas where a variety of medicinal plants are being cultivated since last three decades by the Bhotiya tribes inhabiting the buffer zone and adjoining areas of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.
About eight different economically promising species viz. Allium
humile, A. stracheyi, Saussurea
costus, Angelica glauca, Pleurospermum angelicoides, Megacarpaea
polyandra, Carum carvi, and Dactylorrhiza
hatagirea used
for medicine, spices, condiments and vegetables being cultivated by these
tribes, were studied in relation to their agronomic practices, uses and
ethnobotany, yield potential and cost- benefit analyses associated with
their cultivation. Majority of the households are involved in the
cultivation of Allium spp.
because it has huge exchange/barter potential. Among the species, per
hectare production was found higher for Saussurea
costus, followed by Pleurospermum
angelicoides and Angelica
glauca under cultivation as compared to that growing in wild. However,
the net return and monetary output/input ratio was found maximum for Carum
carvi (25.0) and minimum for Megacarpaea
polyandra (6.0). Out of the total
production of all the medicinal plants (7694 kg/ha), maximum
quantity (4038 kg/yr) is exchanged or bartered, followed by marketing and
own consumption, However, the unsystematic marketing channels, have led to
the exploitation of cultivators/ collectors. Therefore, before
recommending their large scale cultivation, a proper marketing of
medicinal plants should be ensured. Besides, small cottage industries
dealing with the extraction of medicinal plants and manufacturing
indigenous medicines/ drugs and essential oils can be established in
remote and far flung areas having easy access to the resource. This will
not only generate the employment opportunities and improve the local
economy but would certainly reduce the existing pressure on their natural
habitat.
Animal husbandry
Cows,
bullocks, sheep, goats, horses and mules are the important animal
husbandry components of the buffer zone of NDBR. Cattle are reared for
milk, organic manure, draught power etc.,
while sheep and goats for meat, milk, and wool and sometimes used as pack
animals in remote and far flung villages, where no other facilities of
transport are available, Horses and mules are reared for transportation
purposes, Among the livestock sheep and goat rearing are the main
traditional animal husbandry system of the people in the region which is
considered to be high remunerative in monetary terms. However, the recent
survey reveals that the livestock population
particularly sheep and goat has been reduced to 82-73 per cent during last
two-three decades from the buffer zone villages. It was partly due to
imposition of Government conservation policies and partly due to
socio-economic changes.
The energy and economic efficiencies of the animal husbandry system
practiced by the buffer zone village at Lower and Higher region reveals
that net profit from individual sheep and goat was accounted to be Rs. 507
and 528/yr, respectively. The economic efficiency of sheep (7.03) and goat
(6.93) was found higher as compared to other animals and least for bullock
(0.93). However, the energy efficiency ratio were found higher for horses
and mules (0.60) and least for cows (0.14). Earning through export were
found maximum in Dronagiri village (Rs.23449/family/yr) and minimum in the
Lata village (Rs 2908/family/yr).
On an average, out of total fodder demand, maximum (58%) was
obtained from agriculture land use system. In the event of out grazing,
cattle of the lower region of NDBR were observed dependent on forests
while that of the higher region were on alpine pastures. Grazing incidence
showed that earlier there were about more than 15 pastures available for
summer grazing, but now they have been reduced to 7, because 9-10 pastures
have been included in the core zone. As a result, the grazing incidence on
the pastures lying in the buffer zone have increased to 6 animal unit/ha
as against of 3 animal units/ha before 1982.
Therefore, it is important to formulate better strategies for
resource management that complement the wider ecological and
socio-economic objectives. The strategy will also need to consider the
social, cultural political and institutional elements that effect the
management of natural resources. The technical and institutional support
for the better implementation of action oriented programmes is urgently
needed for successful livestock development.
Ethnobiological study of the Bhotiya tribe
The inhabitants of the buffer zone villages of Nanda Devi Biosphere
Reserve (NDBR) depend entirely on the surrounding vegetation to meet their
subsistence demand of fodder, fuel, timber, food medicine etc. Edible and
some medicinal plants collected/ consumed in the large scale by the local
people of NDBR were quantified and their monetary equivalents were
calculated based on the prevailing market rates. Present study was
conducted for complete two years (1995-1997) in 10 buffer zone villages of
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, lying in district Chamoli of Garhwal
Himalaya. These villages are inhabited by the Tolchhas a sub-community
of the Bhotiyas. Ethnobiological point of view a total of 173 plant
species were observed which are used by these people. Of which, 82% plant
species are used for medicine, spices and condiments, vegetables and
fruits etc. and 18% are used for house construction material, fuel,
fodder, agricultural implements and fencing etc. The quantification and
documentation of the indigenous knowledge related to uses of these wild
resources which is restricted only with a few people locally known as
vaidhya (local medical practitioner) is extremely important and also
important is to assess their contribution in the village ecosystem
function otherwise it will be lost forever in the process of acculturation
which is taking place in this community at an alarming rate.
Village Ecosystem
The village ecosystem function of the buffer zone villages (located
at lower and higher regions) of NDBR, have been analyzed for their energy
and economic efficiencies. Agriculture is the main occupation of the
people of the region. The primary production system in the village
comprises agricultural land, land under medicinal plant cultivation and
kitchen gardens. Economically medicinal plant cultivation was found
efficient (output/input ratio 10-13) as compared to agriculture and
kitchen garden. The kharif season crops practiced at lower region were
found energetically more efficient than the kharif season crops of higher
region and rabi season crops of the lower region. Kitchen garden crops
(viz., green vegetables, cabbage, cucurbits and other seasonal vegetables
etc.) cultivated at higher region showed high energy and monetary
efficiencies ratio than the lower one.
The forests are closely linked with domestic sector, agriculture,
animal husbandry and provide food, fodder, leaf litter for agriculture and
timber, etc. The per capita per year wild edible collection was found
maximum in Malari village. Whereas, other forest resources (i.e.,
leaf litter for organic manure, house construction material, etc.) was
collected maximum by the Tolma village.
Among the villages of the total average food energy consumed (5495
MJ per capita per year), the agriculture alone contribute maximum (52%to
55%) of food energy in the diet of the local people, followed by import
from the market, animal husbandry and forests, The per capita per year
total monetary return was recorded highest from animal husbandry to the
people living in higher region whereas at lower region the maximum
monetary return was obtained from agriculture. The income/expenditure
ratio was exhibited highest for the villages of the lower region of the
buffer zone. Human labour is the only output derived from the domestic
sector which makes a number of contribution for smooth functioning of the
village ecosystems.
Linkages among the
different sectors of village ecosystem viz., agriculture, medicinal plant
cultivation, kitchen garden, animal husbandry, cottage industry, domestic
sector and dependence on forest were analyzed with a view to develop
appropriate strategies for sustainable development of buffer zone villages
so that the objective of conservation of biological resources and better
management of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve can be achieved.
The current study indicated that open access to natural resources
by the traditional communities may be deterrent due to current population
pressure. However, strategy of domesticating high value low volume minor
forest produce will be helpful for achieving both conservation objectives
and economic upliftment of local people. The current study has
conclusively supported this hypothesis.
Sunil Nautiyal
Subject : Botany
Ph. D - Botany H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar (Garhwal)
Correspondence Address:
, University of Tokyo, Japan
Work Title
Ecosystem function of buffer zone villages of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve