Traditional conservation practices in India

India has deep-(Pawar, 2003. Pers. Comm.). These beliefs have been studied among Gond.

MiscellaneousThose practices, which do not fit in the above standard categories, are included under this heading.

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Totemic species

Role Koda Gavde: Goda nil (Mammal, Nilgai, Boselaphus tragocamelus).

9 Uike: Usya Mudyl (?)

10 Usendi: Goat (Mammal, Capra hircus)

14 Darro: Halayal (Mammal, Male Buffalo)

15 Kumoti: Dagad Dev (?)

In India, many tribes used certain species of plants and animals for religious and cultural purposes like in Tai Khamits tribe of Assam (Gogoi and Borthakur 1991). Tai Khamits tribe of Assam used lot of species of both plants and animals for religious and cultural purposes and they preserve the same.

1 DahubidavMahua (Madhuca longifolia var latifolia (Koen))For the welfare of agriculture. 2 Bijori: Paddy (Oryza sativa)Celebration of the initiation of agricultural works.

3 Akhadi: All edible NTFPFrom this occasion utilization of forest produce of that particular season starts.

4 Jamur Awas: Bamboo (Bamboosa arundinacea)

5 Mata Puja: Mahua, Neem (Azadirachta indica). Worship of Gondi goddess.

6 Sanjori. Paddy (Oryza sativa)After crop matures this worship is performed among Gond.

Other restraint on utilization of certain species

In certain age, people are not allowed to utilize species.

1 Before marriage, young people are not allow to eat Kariyal Usid (Indian Robin, Saxicoloides fulicata) Animal

2Before marriage, young people are not allow to eat Behra Kider (Golden backed Lesser Woodpecker, Dinopium benghlensis)Animal3Before marriage, young people are not allow to eat Kakad (House crow, Corvus splendens)Animal

In certain period or before certain occasions people do not eat or utilize some species.

1 People do not eat Chichoda Bhaji (Oxalis corniculata), before churna (December - January).Plant

2 People do not eat Amla (Emblica officinalis), before churna (December - January).Plant

3 People do not eat Karwool mati before churna (December - January).Plant

4 People do not eat Parswel before Akhadi (July – August).

5 People do not eat Warali (a wild vegetable) before Akhadi (July – August).Plant

6 People do not eat chaha dodo (A plant species) before Akhadi (July – August).Plant

7 Collection of Mahua seeds started after Polo only.Plant

8 People do not eat Kohola (Melon fruit) before Dashara.Plant

9 People do not start eating mango before Gudhi Padva.

Miscellaneous

1 People do not kill Hulal (gray musk shrew – Suncus murinus) believes that if it is in home snake do not enter.Animal 2 People do not kill snakes on NagpanchmiAnimal

3 People do not take any agriculture work from ox on Pola.AnimalTable 8.5 - Table showing miscellaneous species level conservation practices at Mendha

Ecosystem level conservation efforts

In different parts of India, patches of forest and tanks are preserved by attaching religious values to them (Chandran et al. 1998). At many places, along Kathani River, some social taboos are found to be attached which regulates the use of particular habitats for resource extraction. Devur Kundi, Dev Doh and Wadadin are the places along Kathani where fishing is not allowed.

Newly adopted way of nature conservation at Mendha

Mendha is a celebrated example of the community based participatory resource management. Gramsabha or village council is a supreme body of local people. All people of the Mendha are the member of the Gramsabha. All the decisions related with the forest are taken with full consensus in the Gramsabha. Regarding prudent use of the natural resources people took many decisions, which help them to sustainabaly use and conserve the natural resources. Some of the examples of initiatives taken by the local people given in following table 8.6.

Initiative taken by the local people

1Use of herbal as well as chemical fish poisons has been banned in Mendha as well as whole Ilakha.

2Encroachment of forestland banned.

4Ban on cutting fruit trees.

5Implemented GOBAR gas (Biogas) scheme to lower the pressure on fuel wood from the forest.

6Implementation of the Ahimsak honey extraction method. In this method, the honey is extracted by a very novel technique so that honeybee population not harmed.

7Ban on the bamboo cutting by the paper mill. It was observed by local people that the method of the bamboo extraction by paper mill workers was not sustainable. After a prolonged struggle people banned paper mill.

8Construction of 1000 gully plugs in the village area through Shrumdan (Voluntary labor) by local people in order to check the erosion.

9Daily forest vigilance, carried out equally by men and women members. Offenders and poachers are brought back to the village and fined.

10Outsiders have been stopped from commercial extraction from forest, e.g. paper industry.

11Initiation and implementation of JFM (Joint Forest Management) in the village. Under this scheme, both local people and forest department work together to conserve the forest.

12Ban on rab (cutting small branches and trees near farms, to burn before planting vegetables and paddy).

13Ban on padka (burning the wood and using the ash to grow cucumbers and other vegetables.)

Table 8.6 – Some of the important initiatives taken by the local people of the Mendha for biodiversity conservation

Conclusions

The study of the conservation practices of Gond people suggests that, intentionally or unintentionally people have given very good protection to many species of importance. All measures studied are related to certain kind of taboo or rituals. There is an inextricable link found between resource extraction, utilization and culture. The utilization of certain species is found to be ritualistic and conservation oriented mainly because of the traditional system.For many species, maturity time is considered for harvesting. For the harvesting of certain species people follow tradition of Polo. Polo is a community religious function in which, on one pre decided day all forest or agriculture work were stopped and worship of the god is done. From the Polo only, certain harvesting process is started. The system of Polo in this area allow species to mature thus avoid early harvesting. From this system of the prudent harvesting, it is clear that people are aware about the phenology and seasonal cycle of the life supporting species. Totemic species involves all the major taxa like fishes, insects, reptiles, mammals and trees.For some species without considering the actual value, they are conserved.Along Kathani River, certain places are banned for fishing. These places act as refuge for the fishes.Now a day, the system of the folk conservation is vanishing. It was observed that, new generation is unable to tell their totemic animals and / or plants.Apart from the above said traditional practices, Mendha people are adopting many new ways of the nature conservation and its sustainable use. These new ways are due to the positive interventions of the outsider agencies and research oriented attitude of the local people.In present day context, it is very much essential to renovate traditional practices.

References

*Heda N. (2007):Some Studies on Ecology and Diversity of Fresh Water Fishes in the Two Rivers of Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra (India). A Thesis submitted to Sant Gadgebaba Amravati University, Maharashtra (India).