A treasure trove: field notes from the forests of Arunachal Pradesh

A treasure trove: field notes from the forests of Arunachal Pradesh

Subject: Environment

Section: Protected Areas

Context:

• A book More Than Just Footnotes: Field Assistants in Wildlife Research and Conservation is written by Ambika Aiyadurai, an anthropologist who teaches at the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, and Mamata Pandya, an independent writer and editor.

Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Located in the Upper Dibang Valley district.
• As the sanctuary lies in the Indo-Chinese transition zone, the flora and fauna of this region is highly endemic and significant. There are over 130 species of birds, and various types of snakes. Some endangered species are the Mishmi takin, the Asiatic black bear, Musk deer and the Blyth’s tragopan.
  • The Mishmi takin (Budorcastaxicolortaxicolor) is an endangered goat-antelope native to India, Myanmar and the People’s Republic of China. It is a subspecies of takin.
  • The Mishmi takin lives in Northeast India and eats bamboo and willow shoots. It has an oily coat to protect it from the fog. Takin is the national animal of Bhutan.
• There are extensive tracts of primary forests —the density of population is very low — and the region is rich in biodiversity. There are at least 25 species of mammals like the clouded leopard, wild dog, the Asiatic black bear and the small clawed otter, and more than 240 species of birds.
• Type of cultivation undertaken in the region is known as Swidden agriculture, or shifting cultivation or jhum cultivation, refers to the technique of rotational farming in which land is cleared for cultivation (normally by fire) and then left to regenerate for a few years.
• Subsistence crops like rice, millets and vegetables are grown, and Swidden cultivation intricately binds the forest communities to their cultural identity.
• The Adi people celebrate at least 13 festivals related to shifting cultivation.
• Jemeithang valley is about four hours from Tawang and home to the Monpa tribe.

Kamlang Tiger Reserve:

• Located in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Kamlang is contiguous to the Namdhapa Tiger Reserve.
• It is home to all four big cats (tiger, leopard, clouded leopard and snow leopard).
• The Kamlang Tiger Reserve has several species of hornbills. Rufous-necked hornbills are common and Wreathed hornbills visit in the winters. The Glaw Lake, considered sacred by the Mishmis.

Pakke tiger reserve:

• Pakke Tiger Reserve, is a Project Tiger reserve in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India.
• It is bounded by Bhareli or Kameng River in the west and north, and by Pakke River in the east.
• The main perennial streams in the area are the Nameri, Khari and Upper Dikorai.West of Kameng River are Sessa Orchid Sanctuary and Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It was known as Pakhui Tiger Reserve, but renamed in April 2001 by the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. It has won India Biodiversity Award 2016 in the category of ‘Conservation of threatened species’ for its Hornbill Nest Adoption Programme.

Indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh:

• Kman Mishmis, Nyishi, Monpa, Apatani or Tani, Adi people and Tangshang people or Tangsa Naga are some of the 26 indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.

Source: TH