Lipichem
Kiphire
In an era of globalisation, the extinction of wild life with the coming of sophisticated weapons which is a concern for all, with this conservation is an apt word for conservationist & environmentalist both for flora and fauna. Almost all agencies and institution both government and private educate and encourage on blanket approach to conservation which is picking up by all stakeholders at a very fast pace.
For indigenous communities protecting wildlife is in her blood, who with conscious mind harvest sustainably, need no rules & regulation to protect her forest where insects were also a part of this. With conservation this connection with nature is degrading and the quality of life shortening.
Wild life and culture
Sharing the concept of hunting an elders said, we don’t go hunting all the time but season and timings were associated with it and people who go hunt all the time are looked down in the society, because we give priority to food and not the wild game. Also added, Community hunting usually takes place usually after the weeding is done in jhum field or if there is important program in the village.
Community hunting is important because there are markers in the hunt as to which portion an individual is entitled. Share of Headmen, person who hunt, older person or the younger person or in laws is identified in the catch or hunt. Even to the person who witnesses the hunt in the jungle is also given a share though they are not part of the team.
Not only this, when we relax after chasing the hunt we get space to share stories, legends and folk tales to youngsters and that is how we pass our oral stories is passed down, he added He also added, even for fishing when there is specific season where we use bamboo trap and stone bund in the river where each clan or family has a specific permanent spot in the river to trap or for stone bund but for this before the community lay the trap there are also specific clan to set the foot in the river first for laying the trap which is followed by the rest of the villager otherwise the catch/ harvest will be less.
Wild life hunting and community relationship
Hunting is not just a game, it has societal connotation and cultural values attached said the headmen of Langznger and added, a family blessed with more male child is envied because they bring wild game in different season. The harvesting of the wild makes their traditional herd and fireplace full of wild hunt that season of the year which is also an indicator of manhood the expectation of society. They also learn the technique of surviving in the wild and added, let’s look beyond hunting and should not let conservation pushes indigenous knowledge to lose its value.
Narrating the story of the younger days an old man who use to hunt said, rampant hunting and fishing with modern equipment should be banned otherwise, what does it mean to be a male if you don’t bring any hunt for your parents who gave birth to you? He also said, hunting keeps alive the culture, where we share the game with friends, family, clan, which maintain relationship. It also creates distinction with gender to eat & not to eat because different culture has specific marker where certain part of the meat are gender specific.
Women farmer while sharing on the issue of conservation opined with conservation life thrills with lot of birds and animals which is very lively but on the other side we are not harvesting crops like millet because birds are destroying it, because only few cultivate this crop, even for paddy the variety which ripens early than others are all eaten by birds. With strict laid down rules on conservation the only option is in certain cases we apply chemicals on crops standing at the boundary line, we have seen few dies birds after eating those crops this is the only solution to safe our crops from bird. Same with wild boar and porcupine but to this we don’t are left with no option even if they destroy our crops.
Changing tradition and challenges
Take away riffles, airguns and chemicals or lay down a regulations, instead of blanket approach on conservation. We don’t need to be taught by corporates how to conserve our wild, our traditional knowledge is enough for conservation. If we could sustain the wilds hundreds of years with our traditional knowledge we can still go and added, with conservation all this markers, traditional knowledge are fast fading and many youngsters do not know the markers this is also one area where the moral structure of society is decaying he added..
A villager while sharing on this issue said, in traditional harvesting of wild resources, culture and tradition is involved. Indigenous knowledge are passed from one generation to another by practicing, where the rich and poor can access to forest resources, but with conservation only rich can avail the resources with gun and bullet. In fishing, herbs are used for capturing of fishes which are made with indigenously which is sustainable but with conservation the rich and the elite use of gelatine sticks and generators which is an alternative and quick solution.
Nagaland amongst one of the hotspot of biodiversity in the country is rich with plant and animal species as around 20% of total area is covered with woodland. However, as per the recent statistics the state is losing 200 sq km of forest loosing per year, which ultimately disturb the habitat of wild life. The only shelter is to invade human habitation and fields which leads to conflict. Hunting as cultural community activity is served to kill wild animals that prey upon domestic and fields are the only solution.
Books of either polished or rudimentary rules and regulations are written on conservation of wildlife in files and signboard with fines attached everywhere along the highway, and even in places where there are is no communication facilities. The church and the government has set her own commitment to not accept or use wild meat in official gathering.
Forest, wildlife and indigenous people
Even with high quality rules and regulation, the demand of wild meat which is heterogeneous is highly context specific. Wild sourced, are eaten by those situated towards the top of the societal hierarchy to convey the wealth and status and are commonly consume in lucrative business setting. In most case the marginalised and the guardian of the wild are rearing for the societal top. The need for people centred conservation action is needed.
Welcoming conservation as a positive step towards protecting the wild an eco-club teacher opined protecting ecology should not push our rich culture to lost its value and added, it’s time we should re-look or re-thing conservation and not to have blanket ban on this. In many instances youngsters are deprived enjoying the freshness of forest, the beauty of wild flowers and the taste of fresh spring because they can hardly go for tracking and do not explore the forest like the hunter does.
Acknowledging poaching as an illegal way of hunting and harvesting wild species for cash and privatization which is a concern for all, he added, community as a whole should be vigilant and a combined steps should be initiated to save over exploitation of the state indigenous species whatever is left in the wild to conserve for our future but also keep in mind that an indigenous lifestyle should be respected.
Conservation policies and practices
Around the world with regard to laws, rules and regulations on hunting, it is seen that in developed countries, wild life management play an important role for hunting regulatory and licensing bodies, where they help to set rules on the number, manner and condition in which animals may be hunted opined an environmental activist and added, I don’t think hunting culture of indigenous people cause extinction of species. If that is the case then big cooperates, government and developed cities should be equally held responsible for destroying habitat of wild life and also causing climate change and loss of species.
Sharing his expectation on his visit to Nagaland Lez, a domestic tourist said, I expect some wild meat in the Naga cuisine but Naga homes and restaurant only provide farm products which is not a naga way of life as come across in the literature. In other words the Naga space is invaded by creating artificial habitat making us salve to industries.
The right to exist along with the human being is the intent of the creator and to protect, preserve and conserve with a responsibility laid on human living in the society to consume sustainably.
Wild life act and conservation
As per 2002 amendment wild life Act which came into force in January 2003 the punishment and penalty for offence under the act prescribe is a minimum imprisonment of three years to seven years and a fine of 10,000- 25,000 and bail under certain condition applicable.
