"International Journal of Geography, Geology and Environment"

Author(s): Monija Nasrin and Bikul Barman

Abstract: In North-East India the forest covers are the ecological and cultural foundation of various tribal communities. In the Jamuna watershed of Assam (India), the Karbi tribes have traditionally maintained a close relationship with forest landscapes through various traditional conservational methods. This study investigates the role of community forest management (CFM) and indigenous conservational practices in sustaining forest resources in four Karbi villages located in the upstream hilly zones of the Jamuna watershed. Primary data were obtained from 120 households using structured interviews, focus group discussions and field observations, with key informant inputs from local leaders and forest officials. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics using MS Excel, while qualitative narratives were thematically coded. Results reveal that 87% of respondents actively participate in community forest protection, 73% people depends on forest products for daily livelihoods in the upstream zones of the watershed. Traditional methods such as sacred groves, rotational shifting cultivation with fallow forest restoration and community restrictions on timber extraction, one time community fishing in a year and prohibition of catching juvenile fishes contribute significantly to forest and species resilience. However, challenges persist in the form of population pressure, market-driven extraction and weakening customary norms with time. The study concludes that integrating indigenous forest knowledge with formal Community Forest Management (CFM) policy mechanisms can help in ensuring ecological sustainability and management of the Jamuna watershed for the future generations; with recommendations of strengthening community institutions through participatory efforts, training and financial incentives.

DOI: 10.22271/27067483.2025.v7.i11a.438

Pages: 01-07 | Views: 41 | Downloads: 18

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