38 17 Learning for Conserva tion and Revi talisation of Natural and Cultural Resources reflected recognition by the British colonial government that the hill communities could not be centrally administered and were best allowed to function under their own governance systems. Table 1 Forest and Community Land Control in North-eastern India State % of total forested area % of total community control Arunachal Pradesh 82 62 Assam 30 3 Manipur 78 68 Meghalaya 70 90 Mizoram 87 33 Nagaland 85 91 Tripura 55 41 To establish conservation areas, the government has to procure and/or purchase land from the community and pay compensation. The several tribal communities that inhabit the region live in close harmony with nature and depend on the forest and other natural resources for most of their basic needs. The Centre for Environment Education (CEE) has been working in the region since 1993 and has tried to encourage community initiatives in environmental conservation through various initiatives, including the RCE initiative. Through the RCE networks in Srinagar and in Guwahati, these efforts are being further strengthened using the experience and expertise gathered from other parts of India and overseas, such as the Asia-Pacific region in particular. This chapter showcases three case studies where the community has taken the lead in conserving biodiversity in their respective areas and set commendable examples. The first two case studies highlight community efforts to conserve flagship species of Hoolock Gibbon in Assam and Blyth’s Tragopan in Nagaland while, in turn, helping to conserve the entire gamut of biodiversity found in those ecosystems. The third case study is from Meghalaya and centres on protecting a patch of community-owned forest to allow regeneration of forest species as well as protection to wildlife. Hoolock Gibbon Conservation One of the unique species in the rainforests of Assam and environs is the Hoolock Gibbon. They are smallest amongst all apes, arboreal, close to humans also known as ‘lesser apes’. They are exclusively found in the protected areas of North-eastern India. Two species of Hoolock Gibbon have been recorded in the region: the Eastern Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys) and Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock). The Hoolock Gibbon is a highly endangered species. Gibbon populations have declined to the point that long term survival of the species in the wild is in serious jeopardy. The challenges facing the species’ conservation are so immense that their number has declined to a few thousand only. The main reasons for this are habitat fragmentation, forest loss from slash and burn cultivation, timber felling, and hunting of the species for its meat. They are also often caught as pets and their body parts used in traditional medicine and in religious ceremonies. Hoolock Gibbons generally prefer upper and middle tree canopy for living and never come down to the ground. Rapid destruction and degradation of their habitat results in canopy interruption, thus compelling them to come down and thereby exposing them to predators and poachers. The Barekuri Gram Panchayat (i.e. Barekuri local government district) is located in the Tinsukia district of Assam under the Hapjan Development Block. It has done commendable work to conserve the Hoolock Gibbon. The Gram Panchayat is a cluster of 23 villages with a population 3
Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity
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