Exploring Indigenous and Local Knowledge and Practices (ILKPs) in Traditional Jhum Cultivation for Localizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Case Study from Zunheboto District of Nagaland, India

Ecosystem Health and Risk Assessments for High Conservation Value Mountain Ecosystems of South Asia: A Necessity to Guide Conservation Policies

“…Three global biodiversity hotspots, the Himalayas, Indo-Burma, and mountains of South–West China, are part of the region. About 10,000 plant species, 30% of which are endemic, 977 species of birds, 300 species of mammals, 269 freshwater fishes, 176 reptiles (30% endemic), 105 species of amphibians (40% endemic) are found in this rich biodiverse Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot that is home to flagship mammal species, such as tigers, rhinoceros, elephants, snow leopards, and clouded leopards (Basnet et al 2019 ; Kandel et al 2021 ) The cultural diversity of the region is equally rich because of the heritage of indigenous people and local communities (Dasgupta et al 2021 ). The major pressures on the regional forest ecosystems come from forest degradation, deforestation for developmental projects, hunting poaching, followed by the unsustainable and illegal trade of valuable threatened wild species of flora and fauna (Peros et al 2021 ).…”

How Can “Community Voices” from Qualitative Research Illuminate Our Understanding of the Implementation of the SDGs? A Scoping Review

“…However, there were six studies that did not follow this trend. Four studies used qualitative methods to explore forms of cultural understanding and indigenous knowledge that could contribute towards the achievement of the SDGs [40][41][42][43]. Wilson [40] explored the potential contribution of Akan mythology towards gender mainstreaming in Ghana, while Berno et al [41] collected local "food stories" that could contribute to the development of sustainable tourism in Timor Leste.…”

“…Wilson [40] explored the potential contribution of Akan mythology towards gender mainstreaming in Ghana, while Berno et al [41] collected local "food stories" that could contribute to the development of sustainable tourism in Timor Leste. Ali et al [42] and Dasgupta et al [43] advocated for the contribution of indigenous knowledge to disaster risk reduction and sustainable agriculture, respectively.…”

Understanding Jhum (shifting cultivation) farmers' place‐attachment and ecocentric attitude: Towards a place‐based approach for sustainable mountain agriculture in Nagaland, India

“…Globally, some 280 million hectares are currently under shifting cultivation, of which 110 million ha are found in Asia. Better known as Jhum farming in India, shifting cultivation involves short‐term clearing of forest patches on mountain slopes, burning the foliage, planting traditional mixed agriculture crops for a short period, and then leaving the land abandoned for natural revegetation (Aayog, 2018; Dasgupta, Dhyani, et al, 2021; Otto & Anderson, 1982). Jhum cultivation has received severe criticism in recent years, owing to its role in tropical deforestation, loss of biodiversity, soil degradation and contribution to global warming (Aayog, 2018; Kumar et al, 2016; Metzger, 2003).…”

“…It is estimated that more than 200 million people across Asia, including some 14–34 million farmers from India who depend on Jhum farming for their daily sustenance (Choudhury et al, 2021). For these people and their communities, Jhum is not only the source of food and livelihood but also a ritually‐sanctioned way of life, a token of self‐identity that resonates with the ethos and culture of the tribal heritage (Dasgupta, Dhyani, et al, 2021; Gupta, 2005). Yet, there is a dearth of research on how to improve these traditional farming systems, given that shifting cultivation usually has lower average agricultural productivity than permanent cultivation and is often criticized for its adverse ecological impact on forest and biodiversity (Edivaldo & Rosell, 2020; Watson et al, 2000).…”