The Role of Tribals in the Conservation of Biodiversity

THE ROLE OF TRIBALS IN THE CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY Abstract This paper describes the significant role of Tribal people who have conserved the biodiversity in and around localities of their natural habitat since the beginnings of civilization. Plants are conserved by these ethnic and indigenous people that serve as a source of wild edible food in the form of roots, tubers, rhizomes, seeds, fruits and as agricultural and horticultural plants. Some of the indigenous cultivars conserved by these ethnic people are used in agricultural cultivars improvement programmes to increase productivity and incorporate traits for increasing resistance against different pests and diseases. Many of the plants conserved by ethnic people are used as antidotes for snake bites and scorpion stings, for setting bone fractures by traditional healers, for curing wounds or arthritis, or as abortifacients and as cures for menstrual problems, etc. Plants are conserved in abandoned sites of shifting agriculture by tribals and also in sacred groves as in situ conservation of biodiversity and ecological restoration. In this paper, we look into the relationship that exist between four tribal communities viz. the Kondh, Poraja, Gadaba and Bonda of the Koraput region with their natural resources. Eucalyptus globulus Labill. , when introduced into the tribal ecosystem is rejected by the community and so is Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn ex Benth., while another tree Pterospermum acerifolium Willd. when introduced is readily accepted by the community. A new water reservoir makes fish readily available to the community and the community incorporates the new resource into their culture. The Bonda spare a few tree species from the axe while clearing the forests for shifting cultivation. The possible philosophy behind these actions is discussed. Dr Lakshman Patra HOD, P.G Department of Philosophy Vikram Deb (Auto) College, Jeypore