Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Elderly Adi Women of Arunachal Pradesh: “Living Encyclopedias” and Cultural Refugia in Biodiversity Conservation of the Eastern Himalaya, India

Environmental Management volume 52, pages 712–735 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Elderly women of a particular socioecological system are considered to be “living encyclopedias” in biocultural knowledge systems. These women play a pivotal role in retaining and passing on biodiversity-related traditional knowledge to the next generations. Unfortunately the fast changing sociocultural values and the impact of modernity have rendered their knowledge somewhat less valuable and they are being treated as “cultural refugia.” Our study on the importance of these women in the conservation of indigenous biodiversity was conducted in 14 randomly selected villages dominated by the Adi tribe of East Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh (northeast India). Data were collected from 531 women (381 elderly and 150 young to middle aged) during 2003–2008 using conventional social science methods and participatory rural appraisal. One innovative method, namely “recipe contest,” was devised to mobilize Adi women of each village in order to energies them and explore their knowledge relating to traditional foods, ethnomedicines, and conservation of indigenous biodiversity. Results indicated that 55 plant species are being used by elderly Adi women in their food systems, while 34 plant species are integral parts of ethnomedicinal practices. These women identified different plant species found under multistory canopies of community forests. Elderly women were particularly skilled in preparing traditional foods including beverages and held significantly greater knowledge of indigenous plants than younger women. Lifelong experiences and cultural diversity were found to influence the significance of biodiversity use and conservation. The conservation of biodiversity occurs in three different habitats: jhum lands (shifting cultivation), Morang forest (community managed forests), and home gardens. The knowledge and practice of elderly women about habitats and multistory vegetations, regenerative techniques, selective harvesting, and cultivation practices contribute significantly to food and livelihood security while sustaining an array of threatened plant species. Basically, knowledge of elderly women on using biodiversity in food and medicinal systems was found in three categories namely: “individual,” “community,” and “refined.” We identified a need to develop holistic policies to recognize and integrate knowledge and practices of elderly women with local level of planning on sustainable conservation of biodiversity as well as community-based adaptations.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

39,95 €

Price includes VAT (Netherlands)

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  • Anderson MK (2005) Tending the wild: Native American knowledge and the management of California’s natural resources. University of California Press, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • APHDR (2005) Arunachal Pradesh human development report. Department of Planning, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar

    Google Scholar 

  • Begossi A (1996) Use of ecological methods in ethnobotany: diversity indices. Econ Bot 50:280–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkes F, Turner NJ (2006) Knowledge, learning and the evolution of conservation practice for social–ecological system resilience. Hum Ecol 34:479–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharyya A, Sharmal J, Shah SK, Chaudhary V (2007) Climatic changes during the last 1800 yrs BP from paradise lake, Sela Pass, Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast Himalaya. Curr Sci 93(7):983–987

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers R (2009) So that the poor count more: using participatory methods for impact evaluation. J Dev Eff 1(3):243–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chandel RS (1978) A handbook of agricultural statistics. Achal Prakashan Mandir, Kanpur

  • Datta A, Goyal SP (2008) Responses of diurnal tree squirrels to selective logging in western Arunachal Pradesh. Curr Sci 95(7):895–902

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson-Hunt I, Turner KL, Mead ATP, Cabrera-Lopez J, Bolton R, Idrobo CJ, Miretski I, Morrison A, Robson JP (2012) Biocultural design: a new conceptual framework for sustainable development in rural indigenous and local communities. S.A.P.I.EN.S, 5.2 [Online]. Available from: http://sapiens.revues.org/1382. Accessed on 15 Jan 2013

  • Dhakal TD, Leduc B (2010) Women’s role in biodiversity management in the Himalayas. In: ICIMOD (ed) Gender perspectives in mountain development: new challenges and innovative approaches. ICIMOD Publications, pp 2–3

  • Edwards AL (1957) Techniques of attitude scale construction. Application Century-Crafts, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Baggethun E, Mingorría S, Reyes-García V, Calvet L, Carlos M (2009) Traditional ecological knowledge trends in the transition to a market economy: empirical study in the Doñana natural areas. Conserv Biol 24(3):721–729

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Government of Arunachal Pradesh (2011) Arunachal Pradesh state action plan on climate change, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Arunachal-Pradesh-SAPCC.pdf. Accessed on 14-5-2012

  • Government of Arunachal Pradesh (2012) New agricultural policy. Government of Arunachal Pradesh, India. http://arunachalpradesh.gov.in/nnap.htm. Accessed on 14-5-2012

  • Gupta AK (2002) Empowering conservators of biodiversity and associated knowledge systems: an intellectual property based framework. Working Paper No. 2002-05-02, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

  • Honey Bee (2009) A century of wisdom: Puriben. Honey Bee 20(1):9

    Google Scholar 

  • Honey Bee (2012a) A union for a century. Honey Bee 23(3):17–18

  • Honey Bee (2012b) The age of motorcycles, medicines, and electricity. Honey Bee 23(2):12

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunn ES (1982) The utilitarian factor in folk biological classification. Am Anthropol 84:830–847

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khadka M, Verma R (2012) Gender and biodiversity management in the greater Himalayas towards equitable mountain development. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu. http://books.icimod.org/uploads/tmp/icimod-gender_and_biodiversity_management_in_the_greater_himalayas.pdf. Accessed on 03-04-2013

  • Kollmair M (2010) Challenges and opportunities for women in the changing Himalayas. In: ICIMOD (ed.), Gender perspectives in mountain development: new challenges and innovative approaches. ICIMOD Publications, pp 2–3

  • Maffi L, Woodley E (2010) Biocultural diversity conservation: a global sourcebook. Earthscan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayoux L, Chambers R (2005) Reversing the paradigm: quantification, participatory methods and pro-poor impact assessment. J Int Dev 17(2):271–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra S, Singh RK, Singh A (2009) Dynamics of traditional foods and livelihood of Adi women in varying socio-ecological systems of Arunachal Pradesh: a source of learning and inspiration. In: Lindgreen A, Hingley MK (eds) The new cultures of food: marketing opportunities from ethnic, religious and cultural diversity. Gower Press, London, pp 203–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Mishra AK, Singh RK, Nachan SV, Singh R, Parat RK (2011) Enormity of indigenous knowledge systems for livelihood security in northeastern region of India: a case study. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Research Complex Barapani, Meghalaya

    Google Scholar 

  • Myer N, Muttermeier RA, Muttermeier CA, da Fornseca GAB, Kent J (2000) Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403:853–858

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nayer MP (1996) Hotspot of endemic plants of India, Nepal and Bhutan. SB Press, Trivandrum

    Google Scholar 

  • Nettle D, Romaine S (2000) Vanishing voices: the extinction of the world’s languages. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 14–150

  • Norusis MJ (2000) SPSS professional statistics. SPSS Inc, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Panda A (2009) Assessing vulnerability to climate change in India. Econ Politic Wkly 44(16):105–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Pareek U, Trivedi G (1964) Socio-economic status scale (rural). Form and manual, Delhi, p 32

    Google Scholar 

  • Pieroni A (2001) Evaluation of the cultural significance of wild food and botanicals traditionally consumed in northwestern Tuscany, Italy. J Ethnobiol 21:89–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Pretty JN (2003) Social capital and the collective management of resources. Science 302(5652):1912–1914

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramakrishnan PS (2002) Land use dynamics and sustainable development in Arunachal Pradesh: environmental planning and sustainable development. Occasional Publication, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramakrishnan PS (2007) Sustainable mountain development: the Himalayan tragedy. Curr Sci 92(3):308–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao RR (1994) Biodiversity in India: floristic aspects. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun

    Google Scholar 

  • Reyes-García V, Godoy R, Vadez V, Apaza L, Byron E, Huanca T, Leonard WR, Perez E, Wilkie D (2003). Ethnobotanical knowledge shared widely among Tsimane’ Amerindians, Bolivia. Science 299: 1707

    Google Scholar 

  • Reyes-García V, Byron E, Godoy VR. Vadez L, Apaza E, Leonard PW, Wilkie D (2004) Measuring culture as shared knowledge: do data collection formats matter?. Cultural knowledge of plant uses among the Tsimane’ Amerindians of Bolivia. Field Methods 16:135–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Reyes-García V, Marti N, Mcdade T, Tanner S, Vadez V (2007) Concepts and methods in studies measuring individual ethnobotanical knowledge. J Ethnobiol 27(2):182–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reyes-García V, Kightley E, Ruiz-Mallén I, Fuentes-Peláez N, Demps K, Huanca T, Martínez-Rodríguez MR (2010) Schooling and local environmental knowledge: do they complement or substitute each other? Int J Educ Dev 30:305–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaefer C (2006) Grandmothers counsel the world. Trumpeter Books Publications, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RK (2004) Conserving diversity and culture-Pem Dolma. Honey Bee 15(3):12–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RK, Adi Women (2010) Biocultural knowledge systems of tribes of eastern Himalayas. NISACIR, CSIR, New Delhi

  • Singh RK, Sharma LN (2004) Indicants of economic status of farmers. Indian J Ext Educ 40:98–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RK, Singh A (2013) Biodiversity and recipe contests: innovative socioecological approaches to capture ecological knowledge and conserve biodiversity in Arunachal Pradesh. Indian J Tradit Knowl 12(2):240–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RK, Sureja AK (2006a) Community knowledge and sustainable natural resources management: learning from Monpa tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. J Transdiscipl Res S Afr 2(1):73–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RK, Sureja AK (2006b) Centurion women and diverse knowledge systems. Indian J Tradit Knowl 5(3):413–419

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh A, Singh RK, Sureja AK (2007a) Cultural significance and diversities of ethnic foods of Northeast India. Indian J Tradit Knowl 6(1):79–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RK, Sureja AK, Turner NJ (2007b) Food and cultural values of hidden harvests in livelihood of Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. Indian J Tradit Knowl 2(3), 30–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RK, Pretty JN, Pilgrim S (2010) Traditional knowledge and biocultural diversity: learning from tribal communities for sustainable development in northeast India. J Environ Plan Manag 53(4):511–533

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh RK, Bhowmik SN, Pandey CB (2011a) Biocultural diversity, climate change and livelihood security of the Adi community: grassroots conservators of eastern Himalaya Arunachal Pradesh. Indian J Tradit Knowl 10(1):39–56

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh RK, Turner NJ, Pandey CB (2011b) Tinni rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) production: an integrated sociocultural agroecosystem in eastern Uttar Pradesh of India. Environ Manag 49:26–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh RK, Singh A, Bhardwaj R (2012) Namdung (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton): a bioculturally rich plant in food and livelihood security of Adi women in Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Himalaya. Indian J Tradit Knowl 11(1):143–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner NJ (2005) The earth’s blanket: traditional teachings for sustainable living. University of Washington Press, Seattle

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner NJ (2006a) Lessons from the grandmothers: women’s roles in traditional botanical knowledge and wisdom in northwestern North America. In: Ertug F (ed) Conference proceedings, international congress of ethnobotany. Yeditepe University, Istanbul

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner NJ (2006b) Those women of yesteryear: woman and production of edible seaweed (Porphyra abbottiae) in Coastal British Columbia, Canada. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Congress of Ethnobotany (ICEB 2005), 2006, pp 499–505

  • Turner NJ, Clifton H (2009) It’s so different today: climate change and indigenous lifeways in British Columbia, Canada. Glob Environ Change 19:180–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner NJ, Turner KL (2007) Traditional food systems, erosion and renewal in Northwestern North America. Indian J Tradit Knowl 6(1):57–68

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (1992) Non-legally binding authoritative statement of principles for a global consensus on the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Agenda Item 9, 13 June 1992

  • Wolverton S, Randklev CR, Barker A (2011) Ethnobiology as bridge between science and ethics: an applied paleozoological perspective. In: Anderson EN, Pearsall DM, Hunn ES, Turner NJ (eds) Ethnobiology. Willey, New York, pp 115–131

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Yumnam JY (2008) Rich biodiversity of Northeast India needs conservation. Curr Sci 95(3):297

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the studied Adi women for sharing their knowledge and practices with us. The plants botanical name identified by Dr. R.C. Srivastava of Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh is duly acknowledged. Financial and logistic support provided by Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh is gratefully acknowledged. The logistic support from Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal was also obtained. The editorial inputs received from Dr. Anshuman Singh, CSSRI is appreciated.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ranjay K. Singh

    Present address: Division of Technology Evaluation and Transfer, Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, CSSRI Campus, E-5 Jarifa Farm, Kacchwa Road, Karnal, 132001, Haryana, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, 791102, Arunachal Pradesh, India

    Ranjay K. Singh

  2. Village Sibut, East Siang District, Pasighat, 791102, Arunachal Pradesh, India

    Orik Rallen

  3. Doying Gumin College, Pasighat, 791102, Arunachal Pradesh, India

    Egul Padung

Authors
  1. Ranjay K. Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Orik Rallen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Egul Padung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ranjay K. Singh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Singh, R.K., Rallen, O. & Padung, E. Elderly Adi Women of Arunachal Pradesh: “Living Encyclopedias” and Cultural Refugia in Biodiversity Conservation of the Eastern Himalaya, India. Environmental Management 52, 712–735 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0113-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0113-x

Keywords

  • Culturally refugia elderly women
  • Traditional knowledge
  • Indigenous biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Adi tribe
  • Eastern Himalaya

Search

Navigation