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Tripura - an introduction

Location and biogeographyThe state of Tripura, with a geographical area of 10,491 sq. km, is predominantly hilly. It is

surrounded on all sides by the deltaic basin of Bangladesh except for a small part in the north-east which adjoins Cachar district of Assam, and Mizoram. The state is situated between 22°57’ and 24°82’ North latitudes and 91°10’ and 92°20’ East longitudes, with the Tropic of Cancer passing through it.

Tripura is characterised by a warm and humid tropical climate with five distinct seasons, namely, spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter. The winter is short followed by a brief spell of spring. Average rainfall is about 2100 mm.

Five major hill ranges traverse the state in roughly north-south direction and continue southward into Chittagong Hill Tract. The highest peak lies at Behliangchhip (Thaidawar, Shib-rangkhung), at 975.36 m above mean sea level (amsl). Gumti, Khowai, Manu-Deo and Muhuri are some of major rivers in the State. The State has three distinct physiographic zones: i) hill ranges ii) undulating plateau land and iii) low-lying alluvial land

60% (6,29,501 ha) of the total geographical area of this state is under forests while 27% of total geographical area is available for agricultural purpose. The remaining 13% is used under non-agricultural purpose and miscellaneous tree crops. 2.22% (22,921 ha) of the geographical area constitutes water bodies.

Legally, the forests are categorized as reserved forests (RF), protected forests (PF) and public forests (UF) (now called unclassified government forests). Out of the total forest area the reserved forests (RF) area is 4,09,700 ha, or about two-thirds.

Since Tripura has tropical/sub-tropical climate with high rainfall, the forest types are mainly: tropical evergreen; semi-evergreen; and moist deciduous. The most important minerals in the state are oil, natural gas and glass sand.

BiodiversityThe land mammal species recorded so far are 90. Of a total of 15 species of non-human primates

in India, 7 are documented from Tripura. Around 342 species of avifauna and 289 species of faunal and floral aquatic diversity are listed as per available records.

The notable mammalian fauna include tiger, elephant, leopard, slow loris, sloth bear, Indian wolf, hog badger, binturang, marbled cat, leopard cat, Chinese pangolin, serow, goral, Malayan giant squirrel, orange bellied squirrel, with many species of primates like hoolock gibbon.

Socio-economic profileThe human population of the state according to 2001 census is 3,199,203. People can be

divided into two predominant categories, namely tribal and non tribal Bengalis. Most of the tribal people are the original inhabitants of the land. Major part of the population comprises of Bengali Hindu migrants coming from Bangladesh, which was earlier East Pakistan. A small percentage is constituted by Manipuris. There are 37 scheduled castes (SC) and 19 scheduled tribes in the state. The major tribes are Tripura or tripuri or tippeara, reang, jamatia, chakma, halam, noatia, mog, kuki, garo, munda, lushai, orang, santhal, uchai, khasia, bhil, cheimal, bhutia, and lepcha. The tripura tribe is largest in numbers and is also socially dominant.

The lushai, kuki, and darlong tribes are Christians. Chakmas and mogs are Buddhists and rest of the tribes are mostly Hindus.

The main occupation in the State is agriculture. The Bengali community practices permanent cultivation on low lying and flat terrain lands. The tribal people have been practicing shifting cultivation (jhuming) on hill slopes since time immemorial. Both single crop system and mixed crop system are practiced in Tripura.

672 Community Conserved Areas in India - a directory

Administrative and political profilePanchayats are exercising powers as per 73rd amendment of the Indian constitution. There are

874 revenue Moujas1 in the State, whereas, the number of towns is merely 10. The State is represented by two Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha and one Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha. The State Legislative Assembly has 60 seats. At present there are 4 districts in the State, 15 civil Sub-Divisions, 31 Revenue Blocks, 183 Tehsils and 874 Revenue Moujas.

Special provisions in the Constitution of India are made to preserve the ethnic, cultural and religious identity of the people, and maintain demographic uniqueness of the region and hence Tripura is a sixth scheduled state under the Constitution Articles 244 (2) and 275 (1) which governs the Tripura Tribal Areas District Council covering about 67% area of the State2. It is a self-governing institution. It has its headquarters at Khumulwng, West Tripura District. The Council has powers of administration and control in the following matters: allotment of land outside RF; use of canal for agriculture; jhum cultivation; village health, sanitation and policing; primary schools; markets; transport; waterways; fisheries; and dispensaries. It is responsible for management of Protected Forest under its jurisdiction.

ConservationWhile the forests of Tripura are rich in floral and faunal diversity providing various ecological

services, this fragile resource base has been diminishing due to various anthropogenic disturbances resulting in degradation and loss of forest cover which is directly affecting the ecological stability, biological diversity, economic viability & environmental security of the state.

A survey has revealed that about 10% of plant species and 21% of mammals are currently endangered. The state has 603.62 sq. km. of area under 4 wildlife sanctuaries namely Gumti, Rowa, Sapahijala and Trishna. Atharamura sanctuary is the fifth Sanctuary proposed. Gumti WLS and Trishna WLS have also been recognized as Important Bird Areas (IBAs)3.

In 2005, Rudrasagar Lake with an expanse of 240 ha was declared as Ramsar Site. The lake is abundant in commercially important freshwater fishes and freshwater scampi, with annual production of 26 metric tons. It is an ideal habitat for IUCN Red listed Three-striped roof turtle. Gumti WLS is another proposed Ramsar site.4

Various policies and schemes by the forest department operational in the state are joint forest management (JFM), medicinal plants resource improvement, state afforestation policy and state bamboo policy. Management of the forests of the state is under the north east forest policy. There are 231 JFM committees (up to June 2002) in the State looking after 34,179 ha of forest areas on care and share basis. These committees are responsible for the protection, afforestation, soil conservation, etc of the forests and are entitled to the benefit sharing in such areas.

Along with these, 36 conservation hotspots (CHS) rich in biodiversity and harbouring highly rare and endangered flora and fauna have been identified with the help of JFM members, NGOs and forest officials. The specific biodiversity conservation plans for these sites are yet to take off.

The fisheries department has taken initiatives to propagate threatened and endangered species of fish and some other aquatic fauna. A Policy has been formulated to train the rural masses for sustainable aquaculture with rational use. The department has taken up re-establishment of giant prawn, magor, pabda (kind of catfish) and fresh water turtle. There are also fish cooperative societies for propagation and harvesting of local fish.

Tripura is also known to have many areas under traditional community management and conservation. Not much information, however, could be collected on this. This compilation contains only one example of community conservation from Tripura.

This information is compiled by Saili S. Palande based on; Forest Department, Govt of Tripura. 2002.Tripura State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Prepared under National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, Ministry of Environment and Forests (Government of India). Contained in CD with TPCG and Kalpavriksh, Securing India’s Future: Final Technical Report of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. (Pune, Kalpavriksh, 2005). Other sources for specific information are given in the text.

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Endnotes1 A cluster of few villages brought together for administrative purpose, smaller than taluka/tahsil.

2 Source: Advisory Panel on Decentralisation and Devolution; Empowerment and strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions (2001). A Consultation Paper on Empowering and strengthening of Panchayati Raj institutions/autonomous district councils/traditional tribal governing institutions in north east India. National Commission to review the Working of the Constitution.

3 Source: M.Z. Islam and A.R. Rahmani. Important Bird Areas of India: Priorities of Conservation. (Mumbai IBCN, BNHS, UK: Bird Life International,UK. 2004).

4 M.Z.Islam and A.R. Rahmani. Potential Ramsar Sites in India. (Mumbai IBCN:BNHS and Birdlife International. 2006).

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CCA/Tripura/CS1/West Tripura/Melghar/Joint forest management

Melghar region, West Tripura1

BackgroundThe Melghar region in Sonmara Subdivision of West Tripura was once a dense forest of sal,

mixed with Vitex peduncularis and Terminalia bellerica. Legally they have been assigned a status of Proposed Reserve Forest.

The India – Pakistan war in 1971 led to the creation of Bangladesh as an independent nation. The war also led to a large number of refugees from Bangladesh crossing over to India and took shelter in the forests in various states in India, including Tripura. Some of these were legal land allocations by the government and many unauthorised occupations. As a result soon the state of Tripura began to feel the population pressure and need for employment was huge. Unauthorised and authorised settlements, resorting to timber felling and smuggling to meet livelihood needs, increased population of livestock and increased hunting, along with other factors led to a fast degradation of forests in Tripura. Within a decade not a tree was within sight and the land had reduced to a vegetation of shrubs and coppice and severe shortage firewood and fodder and water in some pockets was felt.

Towards community conservationFinally in 1984, after years of poverty and despair, Subodh Sur, a young graduate, formed a group

of 15 youths in his village Rudijala in Melghar block. This group started spreading environmental awareness amongst the people. In 1987, the Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Briksha Mitra Sangha (AJCBMS) was officially formed. Group started its activities by initiating plantation activities in many villages and establishing a makeshift nursery with bamboo and other local saplings. According to Sur, the villagers who were earlier hesitant saw the results, and started to grow bamboo and other trees on their lands.

Their efforts received a boost when the Tripura Govt. decided to adopt Joint Forest Management in Tripura in 1993.The pilot project named ‘Jeevan Deep’ was launched in the Melghar region. The first coppice protection exercise was started in 40 hectares of degraded forest with 230 families with 10502 beneficiaries from four villages, namely, East Nalchar, Chandigarh, Mohanbhog and Rudijala3. AJCBMS played a major role as a local NGO in interfacing between Forest Department and the villagers. Devoted workers went door to door explaining the details of the new policies and organised several meetings emphasising on the benefits of JFM.

A Forest Protection and Regeneration Committee was formed as per the Govt. guidelines with the general body consisting of one member from each of the 230 families of the above mentioned four villages and the executive committee of seven members; one member from each of the four villages, one member from the local NGO (the secretary of AJCBMS), one woman member and one member secretary (forester in charge of Melghar region).

The objective and functions of the committee was

• To ensure protection of forests/plantations from theft, illegal grazing, encroachment, fire, etc. and to protect the wildlife in the area

• To facilitate timely execution of forestry programs

• To ensure smooth harvesting and benefit sharing

• To reduce the practice of jhumming by the beneficiaries4

To assist the Central Executive Committee, seven ‘Para’ or Local committees were formed.The major activities of the Executive committee were site management of the major works distributed in terms of protection, supervision and monitoring activities; regulation of benefit sharing, particularly extraction of non timber forest produce (NTFPs) by beneficiaries such as firewood, bamboos, fodder, broomsticks, wild vegetables/edible plants including mushrooms.

676 Community Conserved Areas in India - a directory

Decisions concerning collection of firewood, bamboo, fodder, minor forest produce and herbs are taken by holding a meeting once a month and carried out under the strict regulation formulated by the committee. They were assisted by Nehru Yuva Kendra, an autonomous organisation of the Government of India and soon 13,000 ha of land were forested and the number of involved families rose to 340.

Impacts of community conservationRemarkable improvement has been seen in the vegetation cover, species diversity and return

in minor wildlife since the protection. The quality of forest produce and availability of water has improved as assessed by the villagers

The role of the women in forest protection was realised and a small scale industry to generate an additional income for them in the form of sales of sticks for incense and ice creams was started. In 1996, a school was started in Melghar where youth from all over Tripura are taught the basics of Joint Forest Management with a grant from The National Foundation of India. Agro based projects, vocational training in cane and bamboo, and health awareness programmes were started.

The Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Briksha Mitra Sangha together with the Forest Dept. of Tripura have not only been successful in weaning away the youth from illegal tree felling but have also now made the people self sufficient in their needs. The success story of Melghar is now spreading fast and other villagers in Tripura are now taking up such works.

Opportunities and constraintsAlthough the timber has not yet been harvested, the beneficiaries have already started reaping

the benefits of the protection by harvesting minor forest produce. Their NTFP demands for household requirements such as construction purpose, vegetables, and fuelwood and marketable commodities such as broomsticks are met.

Some of the constraints faced by the conserving community are

1. Although the local greenery has returned and NTFP needs met, the pace and volume of economic returns are slow and low (possibly because of the high density of humans and cattle in the area).

2. The input from other line departments for improved education, healthcare, nutrition supplements, co-operative activities is very low.

3. There is a need for improved agriculture, particularly for growing of winter vegetables, kitchen gardens etc. for supplementary income and nutritional needs.

4. There is also a need to build local capacity for skill development for value addition of forest produces and trade/market linkages.

5. Revolving funds for micro-credits need to be encouraged non-land based economic activities through sustainable micro-enterprises (low investment. quick returns)

6. Need for supplementing the program through organisation of self help groups, particularly the women (for eg. Handlooms poultry rearing, mushroom cultivation etc. for sustainable supplementary activities for income generation.)

7. lack of replicability of similar efforts in the immediate vicinity of the present CCA; need for adoption of neighbouring villages through supply of quality planting materials of trees, NTFPs etc.

8. Need for a conflict resolution mechanism (although there have been no major conflicts yet) but there is a constant need for non-politicalization of the program/efforts.

9. THE FD officials predict problems in 17 years when the major harvest will take place since many of the beneficiaries will be dead and there will be conflict in distribution between legal heirs

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For more information contact:Dr. S.K.BarikBotany Dept.North Eastern Hill UniversityBijni ComplexLaitumkhraShilong 793022TEL: 0364-250106 X 227FAX: 0364-250108TEL (R): 0364-231698sk_barik@hotmail.com

Dr. V.T. Darlong Ph: 098630217300364-2503531drvtdarlong2002@yahoo.co.in

Endnotes1 Yadav R., (2001) Born Again, Down to Earth Issue November 30.

Presentation of Dr. Barik & Dr. Darlong at the Workshop on Community Conserved Biodiverse Areas in India, Bhopal, 2001. Organised by Kalpavriksh and Indian Institute of Forest Management.

2 Beneficiaries were divided into three categories.

A. Families of daily labourers and the landless; B. Families with landholdings upto 4 kanis (0.16 ha=1kani); c. Land holding above 4 kanis or government employees

3 Presentation of Dr. Barik & Dr. Darlong at the Workshop on Community Conserved Biodiverse Areas in India, Bhopal, 2001. Organised by Kalpavriksh and Indian Institute of Forest Management.