Record Details

Ecoculture and subsistent adaptations of Monpa community in the eastern Himalayas: An ethnoecological study in Arunachal Pradesh

KRISHI: Publication and Data Inventory Repository

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Title Ecoculture and subsistent adaptations of Monpa community in the eastern Himalayas: An ethnoecological study in Arunachal Pradesh
 
Creator Ranjay K. Singh
 
Subject Ecoculture;Sacred ecology;Conservation;Subsistence survival;Economy;Natural resources;Monpa tribe
 
Description This study explores the interconnectedness between ecocultural knowledge and subsistence livelihoods of Monpa tribal communities in the West Kameng and Tawang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India. For such indigenous and tribal peoples, local cultures, spiritual beliefs, social and ethical norms and interconnectedness with local ecosystems is the essence of their social capital. For Monpa people, ecocultural capital plays a particularly significant role in subsistence and conservation of natural resources. The Monpa have rich and diverse socio-cultural, economic and spiritual perceptions of their natural resources and landscapes. These ecocultural and spiritual values represent a challenge for resource managers seeking to integrate them in their top-to-bottom approaches to resource use and regulation. Results indicated that the ecological knowledge codified in Monpa language and culture varied according to altitude and peoples’ access to particular ecosystems. Their overall ecocultural diversity, enhanced through cultural networks across communities, allowed the Monpa a wide degree of food availability and enhanced their health and well-being. Their diverse knowledge systems and cultural network among community members significantly affect the management practices pertaining to agriculture, animal husbandry, forest and aquatic resource’s access pattern, food availability and maintaining the health of human and nature. The survival strategies intermingled with location specific ecological knowledge and indigenous management practices buffered by myths, customs, sacredness and traditional values assured sustainable and subsistence livelihood in harsh ecology; and maintaining the resilience of rainfed ecosystem. They emphasize the need for respectful land use, and described general landscape conditions consistent with such use.
 
Date 2017-06-21T04:43:06Z
2017-06-21T04:43:06Z
2013-07
 
Type Research Paper
 
Identifier Singh Ranjay K. (2013). Ecoculture and subsistent adaptations of Monpa community in the eastern Himalayas: An ethnoecological study in Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 12(3):441-453.
http://krishi.icar.gov.in/jspui/handle/123456789/4370
 
Language English
 
Publisher NISCAIR