Authors: Ramesh Birua
Abstract: The Karbi people of Assam, India, are indigenous people with cultural practices that are deeply rooted in nature. Community knowledge of ecology, which is passed from generation to generation, enables community members to utilize biodiver-sity for subsistence activities and conservation practices while integrating traditional botanical knowledge. This relationship is also endorsed by traditional knowledge, com-munity-based resource management, and spiritual and animistic beliefs. The Karbi are part of the ecosystem and this fosters a sense of responsibility amongst them for envi-ronmental protection. Indigenous land-use practices are a reflection of wider Indige-nous worldviews about the interconnectedness of humans and nonhumans, which is a key element in ecological balance. The cultural practices like totemic beliefs, sacred groves and sustainable farming practices are closely associated with forest ecology. All of this, in combination, helps to conserve biodiversity and to ensure the long-term healthy environment and good health of the community. But with the advent of mod-ernization, this precarious social-ecological relationship faces serious challenges and therefore it is important to look at the Karbi model of sustainability. The biocultural concept is a helpful lens through which to conceptualise customary governance systems as a means to enhance the resilience of ecosystems under human stressors. These frame-works also illustrate the linkages between cultural values and ecological health, and how local institutions can contribute to community response to chronic environmental changes. Indigenous lands are also designated as centers of biodiversity and cultural heritage, and incorporating traditional ecological management systems is in line with this global recognition.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23078605
