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Conservation of dryland biodiversity: an indigenous knowledge based study |
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The Honey Bee Network has pursued the goal of conservation and augmentation of biodiversity and associated knowledge system even before the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) came about in 1992. As a part of this mission, SRISTI had pursued a project on the subject using Participatory, Patient, learning approach (PPLA) in Balaram and Jessore sloth bear sanctuary in north Gujarat. Idea was to develop community based model of conservation and benefit sharing. The team had tracked floral, faunal and even microbial diversity of the study area. One of the key findings was that if we had relied on only scat analysis to understand food habits of Sloth Bear, our understanding would have been severely handicapped. People knew far more species which bear consumed than was possible to study through scat analysis alone. Conservation without building upon people’s knowledge will seldom result in sustainable outcomes |
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"Erosion of biodiversity and associated knowledge systems has been causing concern around the world. To facilitate conservation of globally significant biodiversity, Global Environment Facility (GEF) was set up as a follow up of Convention on Biodiversity Conservation or Rio Summit. SRISTI has been pursuing conservation of biodiversity in wild as well as domesticated environments through various participatory approaches.
SRISTI undertook development of a GEF/UNDP supported project entitled “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Dryland Biodiversity of North Gujarat” . The full project of five years is intended to conserve globally significant biodiversity in the dry arid and semi arid ecosystems of northern Gujarat to be supported by Global Environment Facility.
This project is unique and different from other GEF Projects in terms of selection of area, methodology and activities. The project revolves around Participatory Patient Learning Interaction Approach (PPLA) and has been very successful in creating a community based conservation model. Building partnership with local communities in project design and implementation is an important feature of this project. For this purpose, besides Ministry of Environment and Forests, Forest Department of Gujarat State, prestigious Institutes and Universities of the country, the major stakeholders are the local communities residing in and around the project area. Their knowledge base has been very useful in formulating data collection approach and in understanding the interaction among social and ecological systems. Existing network of protected areas has to be complemented with community oriented strategies to conserve sloth bear and other endangered wild life and agro-biodiversity. Network of sacred groves, community forests, Knowledge Forests (Gyan Van) and grasslands has to be developed to build upon local institutions as well as conservation ethic. Work in two demonstration project sites, namely Jessore and Balaram-Ambaji Sanctuaries, will strengthen local institutions,
innovations and add value to traditional as well as contemporary knowledge systems. This will ensure conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and additional income generation for the local communities.
Findings: (a) Flora: The ecological study on flora helped prepare an exhaustive list of plants found in the two sanctuaries. This kind of work has never been attempted in the past in these sanctuaries. A total of 406 species of plants (90 trees,
47 shrubs, 33 climbers, 194 herbs,
31 grasses, six pteridophytes, two bryophytes, one epiphyte, and two fungi) have been recorded in Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary and 483 species of plants (107 trees, 58 shrubs, 49 climbers, 219 herbs, 40 grasses, four pteridophytes, three bryophytes, one epiphyte, and two fungi) in Balaram-Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary. All these tree species are known to belong to 13 families, similarly shrubs belong to 15, herbs 11 and climbers belong to 13 families. Some globally important species, which fall in the IUCN category of threatened species, are also recorded from here. These include four rare species namely, Pavonia arabica, Tecomella undulata, Caparis cartieaginea and Dendrocalamus strictus; two threatened Sterculia urenas and Phoenix sylvestris and one endangered species Ceropegio adorata. The most exciting discovery was that of six species endemic to India. These are Anogeissus sericea, Chlorophytum borivilianum, Sterculia urens, Tecomella undulata, Phoenix sylvestris and Dendrocalamus strictus. Out of the total plant species found here, 89 plants are recorded to have medicinal properties.
(b) Fauna: The study on animals included inventory preparation, habitat evaluation, food spectrum and an estimation of density and abundance of major phyla along with threats they are exposed to. The study on the herpetofaunal group in these sanctuaries represented a range of orders vis-à-vis Anura, Chelonia, Squamata and coocodilia. A total of 17 species of amphibians and reptiles have been spotted, 14 species each in Jessore Sloth Bear and Balaram- Ambaji sanctuaries.
According to International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural resources (IUCN), ‘Indian Python’ (Python molurus), found here, is declared as an endangered species. According to Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), ‘Flapshell turtle’ (Lissemys punctata) is under vulnerable category and ‘Muggar’ (Crocodylus palustris), ‘Python’ and ‘Varanus’ (Varanus bengalensis) are in endangered category. The major threat faced by the herpetofaunal species is the scarcity of water points, which are very crucial for their activities. It has been noted that amphibians are less diverse than the reptiles indicating water as a limiting factor for the amphibious mode of life. The other threats are casualties by the heavy moving traffic, hunting of Flapshell turtle and Varanus for flesh and catching of Varanus, Cobra and Rat snakes for earning livelihood by the snake charmers.
Studies on birds indicated the presence of 151 species in both the sanctuaries,
105 in Jessore Sloth Bear and 133 in Balaram-Ambaji Sanctuaries belonging to 46 families. There are 43 species of water birds in the two sanctuaries. Many of them are migratory and choose these places as a halting site making the sanctuaries thus important for conservation.
‘Redspur fowl’ (Galloperdix spadicea) an endangered species is found here. Four bird species viz-a-viz, ‘Grey jungle fowl’ (Gallus sonneratii), ‘Whitebellied minivet’ (Pericrocotus erythropygus), ‘Indian black ibis’ (Pseudibis papillosa) and ‘Painted stork’ (Mycturia leucocephala) are under the near threatened category and six species - ‘Whitewinged black tit’ (Parus nuchalis), ‘Asian openbill’ (Anastomus oscitans), ‘Asian whitebacked vulture’ (Gyps bengalensis), ‘Long-billed griffon’ (Gyps indicus), ‘Indian black vulture’ (Sarcogyps calvus) and ‘Rednecked falcon’ (Falco chicquera) are in the vulnerable category of IUCN Red Data list.
The major threat encountered by bird species is habitat deterioration. It could be due to a) overgrazing which depletes the ground cover, b) quarrying which causes a lot of noise pollution and settling of dust on the agricultural lands, c) lopping of wooded trees like Butea monosperma and Prosopis juliflora which reduces the roosting and breeding sites as well as hamper the feeding habits of the birds
d) invasion of Prosopis juliflora which has caused a great deal of damage to the ground vegetation, thereby reducing the habitats of most of the ground dwelling birds and e) hunting of a few birds like, ‘Redspur fowl’, ‘Peafowl’, ‘Bulbul’ etc. Mammalian fauna found here include 20 different species, of these, ‘Indian pangoline’ (Manis crassicaudata) and ‘Sloth bear’ (Melursus ursinus) are near threatened and vulnerable according to the IUCN Red Data list respectively. The major threats faced by them are the scarcity of water, hunting and habitat destruction due to human population pressure.
Formal/Informal Knowledge
The most interesting feature in the floral and faunal studies had been that the ecological findings through sophisticated techniques matched well with the knowledge of the local communities based on their own careful observations. The inventory of species recorded by putting transects (lines of references about which the data is collected) matches with the one prepared with the help of local communities. For the purpose of inventorizing the plant diversity, biodiversity contests were held in the project area. Children were given one week’s time for collecting as many plants’ parts as they could. They were to compile information on the uses of the plants from various sources such as books, their own observations and the knowledge of older generation. This serves two vital purposes. One, it helps transfer indigenous knowledge about the species from older to younger generation. Two, it creates inquisitive attitude in children. It was found that the knowledge of local communities about plants was immense. Where the ecological survey yielded the presence of 107 species of trees, 58 species of shrubs, 49 species of climbers, 220 species of herbs, 40 species of grasses and nine species of lower plants, the results of biodiversity contests exhibited the presence of 168, 81, 75, 247, 40 and nine species of the respective groups
A similar kind of study was conducted among the adult population of the local communities to collect information on animals. The team surveying the project area spotted 17 herpetofaunal species as stated earlier as against 13 species seen by the local communities. Similarly, the local people informed about the presence, through local knowledge, of 69 avian and 23 mammalian species and the research team discovered 151 avian and 20 mammalian species.
Another interesting aspect of the ecological study made in collaboration with the local communities was the finding on the food and habitat preferences of the Sloth bear, the main species of the project area. People of different communities residing in the area were contacted and their insights about the animal behaviour, its diet preferences, habitat requirements were collected. Through local consultations, it emerged that the diet spectrum of Sloth bear is quite wide. It can consume up to 48 food items, which include various types of fruits, vegetables, tubers, shoots, flowers, ants, termites and honey. To understand the dietary pattern of this animal, 29 scat samples were analyzed between March and July of 1999 by the research team, which revealed the presence of 13 food items also identified by the local communities.
The next step of this study was to elucidate the habitat preference of Sloth bear by comparing the information gathered from local people on its movement with the estimated preferred food abundance in that area. The areas defined in this context were biodiversity zones homogenous in tone, texture and colour reflectance from the vegetation obtained through remote sensing but distinct from other such zones. There are ten such biodiversity zones dispersed all over the project area. A comparison was made between the presence of most favoured food items and evidences of Sloth bear using a particular zone as observed by local people and research team. A definite correlation was found between evidences of usage of a particular zone and the diet items of Sloth bears found in that zone. The biodiversity zones which are rich in fruit trees especially Ficus glomerata and Diospyoros melanoxylon (these are very sweet fruits and preferred most by Sloth bears) and also show the presence of honey, ants and termites have been found to be visited by the bears to the maximum. The ones, which have the paucity of food items, show less number of evidences of Sloth bear visits.
(c) Non Forest Biodiversity Products (NFBP): The complexity of issues surrounding a participatory approach to the management of protected area is overwhelming. This collaborative research study with GIAN (Gujarat Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network), a sister concern of SRISTI, is an attempt at providing some alternatives to solve at least one of the problems of protected area management i.e. reducing the dependence of the people on the forests. It is a widely recognized fact that in order to reduce the biotic pressure from forests, it is important to identify, establish and develop alternatives to extraction of biomass. This can be facilitated either by
(a) widening people’s range of choices, (b)
increasing their income, thus reducing their exigency to exploit forests, or (c) providing specific alternatives to forest resources.
Enterprise Approach to Conservations
The outcome of this study shows that the enterprise based resource conservation may be one of the strategies to reduce threat to the biodiversity of the protected area. Economically viable value addition that reduces threat to biodiversity and promotes improved management of resources can aid in the development of enterprise based resource conservation. The enterprises suggested are all based on Non Forest Biodiversity Products (NFBP). Four major enterprises are suggested and their feasibility is worked out. These enterprises are (1) Non-edible oilseed milling (2) Cassia tora beverage making (3) Herbal medicine preparation and (4) Fabric manufactured from eri-silk that is silk based on castor crop leaves (introduced for the first time in Gujarat). Based on the indigenous knowledge of the local people, enterprises are suggested, which include activities like (i) scouting of knowledge (ii) adding value through research (iii) intellectual property protection and (iv) licensing of the local IPR (Intellectual Property Right/s) etc.
the inception stage all throughout the implementation phase of the project. Senior level district officials from forest and other development departments, representatives from NGOs and other stakeholders including village panchayat leaders participated in this exercise. The outcome of such consultations has brought to light the perceptions of local people about the problems and prospects of restoring health of natural resources in the sanctuaries. The deep anxiety among people about possible relocation is quite visible. Though forest department denies any such plans. People did not seem to have any reservation about leaving space for wild life untouched. But they did feel alienated. Their concern is that they needed to be assured of their right to stay where they have been living for ages. This will help them co-operate whole heartedly in conservation efforts of forest department. A high demand of cultivable land due to human population pressure, non-availability of irrigation water, difficulty in fodder/pasture cultivation in summer and winter, increase in the population of stray cattle, encroachment wastelands and gauchars) are some of the problems which have increased the dependency of tribals/villagers on forest for grazing their animals. Due to lack of institution building efforts by public and voluntary agencies, the consciousness about rotational grazing or managing pasture has not been generated. Therefore, the project has emphasized the identification of local institutions, which prohibit grazing in certain pockets and aim to promote, maintain and replicate these institutions in other parts of the protected area.
(e) Network of Sacred Groves: Fifty-six sacred groves have been recognized within and around the sanctuaries. The sacred element worshipped range from non- living (stones, river, landscape, waterbed temple, terracotta horses, flags etc.) to living (plants and animals) things. A detailed study was conducted to study historical account of rules for managing boundary, access, governance, conflict- resolution, resource-allocation, threats and ecological-cultural interface associated with sacred groves (detail report to follow in the next issue). The study divulged reduced reverence of these groves in some places, increased pilgrim visits and grazing pressure as threats to the cultural and ecological integrity in other places. This study seeks to evolve framework for a major project through participatory knowledge intensive approaches. Hope is that a network of existing and prospective sacred groves can provide refuge to wildlife and in near future mobilize conservation ethic for protecting not only the groves but the entire wildlife and ecosystems.
Honey Bee: 11(2)14-16, 2000
(d) Local Consultations: Under the Participatory Patient Learning Interaction approach seven local consultations were organized in different villages of the sanctuaries. This was a major step to involve local people and make them a strong partner in the project right from
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| Volume No. |
Honey Bee, 32(1-2)35-38, 2021 |
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