Impact of Customary Laws in Sustaining Collective Resources-Community Conservation Practices From North East India

Abstract

Destinations and host communities of the state of North East India govern and control natural resources through customary laws and traditional knowledge. Compared to huge bureaucratic administration of federal government of India, traditional villages based institutional interventions have delivered better results in its management. Preservation of bio-diversity and environment resources is discussed as case studies in this research. Hypothetical relationship between traditional tribal institutions and its support system is drawn. The 12th five-year plans of Government of India failed to estimate consumption patterns and immigration pattern responsible for exploitation of pristine forests, dwindling of traditional livelihood practices and shrinking pastoral landscapes. On contrary, few destinations of North East India emerged as best practices in forest conservation and mitigation. This paper concludes that community-based management practices, customary laws and traditional institutional interventions brought a symbiotic balance between livelihood practices and community conserved areas. This paper discusses community conserved forest, participatory conservation models, stressed environment assets, conservation methods, and loss of traditional livelihood practices.

Keywords: Traditional village institutions, Community-conserved forests, North East India, Customary laws, Traditional Knowledge

JEL Classification: Q57, Z32