Ingenious systems of practice in farming of these tribal societies is often energy ecologically efficient. These also play important roles in lessening Biodiversity loss. Such practices are living examples of sustainable utilisation of the bio-resources endowed to the indigenous communities by Nature. In addition, tribal faith and belief play an important role in the conservation strategy. In every community there is a strong practice of and belief in taboos, nature worship and their associated wisdom. These practices since time immemorial helps towards replenishing the biodiversity loss that are the results of natural as well as anthropogenic activities. 1. Agricultural practices in Apatani The Apatani belong to the Tibeto- Mongoloid stock. They are very superstitious, nature worshippers and follow the Donyipoloism, believing the existence of Sun and Moon as supreme Gods. Apatani’s settled in Ziro valley at an altitude above 1,600 m in Arunachal Pradesh, India. With a total population around 29,546 people (Census Report, 2011) the tribe live in sustainable villages made from wood and bamboo. 1.1 Rice farming and irrigation system Shifting or Jhum cultivation is one of the most prevalent land use systems and cause of forest degradation in the north-eastern region of India. However, shifting or Jhum cultivation is not practised by Apatanis. They have developed other important agro-system types, viz home gardens and wet rice cultivation. Apatani village ecosystem is an excellent example of economic sufficiency of a traditional agricultural society (Chaudhry et. al., 2011). With a highly developed valley cultivation of rice perfected over centuries Apatanis has often been suggested to be one of the relatively advanced tribal societies in the Northeastern region of India (Haimendorf, 1962). There are 16 varieties grown in wet-rice cultivation and are classified as early or late harvesting varieties. Pyare rice is harvested during the last week of July, and Emmo in October. The terraced rice fields are classified as Jebi, Ditor/Pitang and Miding, depending on water-related properties. Jebi the marshy agricultural field normally kept without water during the fallow period is endowed with fine clay soil with higher water- retention capacity than Ditor/Pitang the land under water for three months during the fallow period. Miding (rice nursery) is the most fertile land and its water retention capacity is very high. Millet is cultivated on the bunds of plots. The Apatani system of irrigation has been modified over many years through community involvement and equitable sharing of water resources. Water is tapped near the forest in the foothills of the valley and is channelled through major canals on either side of the valley. The water is distributed via numerous small canals so that every plot of land is well supplied with irrigated water for rice cultivation (Chandra et. al., 2008). This also ensures the draining back of surplus water to the main canal without the loss of any organic matter or soil. Terraces, made along the gradient, are connected using bamboo pipes of small circumference at the higher elevations where water intake is lower. In the lower valley, pine pipes of larger circumference are used. Water from the bamboo and pine pipes is not allowed to cascade from one plot to another; bamboo barriers are fixed on the upper elevations where the volume of water is smaller, with pine blocks at lower elevations where the volume of water is greater. Further, to contain losses of organic matter, bamboo traps or straw bedding are introduced into all plots. The dimensions of the bunds change from higher elevations towards the valley floor. The bunds are repaired every year before rice planting. Ploughing is not done in the rice plots so as to avoid soil loss; instead spades 124 Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
Proceedings of International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals : Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016 at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
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