Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Biodiversity and Resource used Practices in High altitudes Region of Western Himalayas

Abstract

The people located in Sangla valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh are economically poor due to its inaccessibility and inhospitable geo-climatic setup but they are remarkably rich in social and cultural milieu and endowed natural wealth. Subsistence farming practices, livestock husbandry and trading off the minor forest resources such as medicinal plants, wild edibles and timber are the only means of economy of the rural people. People are socially categorized as tribal. They have their own empirical and innovative knowledge experienced/ inherited through trial and error with the locally available biological resources and diverse geo-climatic condi- tions thus, establishing a perfect harmony with the nature. The practices of conservation of cultural and biological diversity have been practicing since time immemorial. The preservation of forests on the ground of social-cultural-religious cult and mythological beliefs has become a matter of adopting the strategies of revival of degraded landscape. There is need to adopt integrated model of options to achieve a meaningful development by incorporating indigenous knowledge with complex ecological/environmental milieus with present social and economic conditions derived on scientific parameters so that sustainability of the area could be maintained for long term.

Keywords

• ecological knowledge
• biodiversity
• resources
• Himalayas