288
S. Das et al.
the present study, conservation studies were undertaken among the fringe villagers
of Borail Wildlife Sanctuary (i) to understand attitude and perception towards forest
and wildlife conservation, and (ii) to assess their socio-economic dependency on
forest and wildlife. The fringe villagers of Borail Wildlife Sanctuary were found to
possess a positive attitude towards the sanctuary as a whole which is essential for participatory conservation and management programme in this protected area situated
in the vulnerable eco-region of north east India. The dominance of utilitarian value
among the local communities indicate towards their social and economic dependency
on the Borail Wildlife Sanctuary, particularly for collecting firewood, constructing
huts (kutcha houses), cultivation of beetle vine (pan jhum) etc. Acceleration of soil
erosion and accentuation in the variability of rainfall distribution as a result of long
term shifting cultivation in Borail Wildlife Sanctuary might be detrimental for conservation of wildlife and biodiversity. This necessitates sanctuary-community interaction for strengthening the sanctuary-community relationship in order to persuade
the local communities to take up alternative forms of livelihood in order to protect
the sanctuary. However, the local villagers were not willing to take part in the current conservation activities which may be attributed to their low level of education
and lack of environmental awareness. The traditional beliefs of a section of fringe
villagers particularly in protecting non-human primates and banyan trees hold key
to participatory wildlife and biodiversity conservation programmes, which the government agencies, policymakers as well as non-governmental organizations might
utilize for successful protected area management coupled with enhanced education
and creation of awareness among local communities. Moreover, creation of wildlife
corridors across the national highway might help save many wild animals of the
Borail Wildlife Sanctuary (which is particularly rich in reptile biodiversity) from
road kills by speeding vehicles.
Keywords Anthropogenic pressure · Land-use changes · Shifting cultivation ·
Livelihood issues · Protected area · Conservation attitude · Utilitarian value ·
Traditional conservation beliefs · Wildlife corridor · Sanctuary-community
interaction
1 Introduction
Wildlife conservation perspective generally refers to the attitude of local people living in and around protected areas towards conservation of wild animals and plant
species in their natural habitat. Attitudes play a major role in acceptance of environmental policies or management actions by the public at large, and conservationists
in particular (Winter et al. 2005). Historically, there have been different views on
functions of protected areas in relation to local residents. During the 1970s and
1980s, international organizations devoted to conservation of wildlife and biodiversity neither dealt with local community issues nor with the presence of indigenous or
rural people inside or around protected areas (Chapin et al. 2004). In general, people
S. Das et al.
the present study, conservation studies were undertaken among the fringe villagers
of Borail Wildlife Sanctuary (i) to understand attitude and perception towards forest
and wildlife conservation, and (ii) to assess their socio-economic dependency on
forest and wildlife. The fringe villagers of Borail Wildlife Sanctuary were found to
possess a positive attitude towards the sanctuary as a whole which is essential for participatory conservation and management programme in this protected area situated
in the vulnerable eco-region of north east India. The dominance of utilitarian value
among the local communities indicate towards their social and economic dependency
on the Borail Wildlife Sanctuary, particularly for collecting firewood, constructing
huts (kutcha houses), cultivation of beetle vine (pan jhum) etc. Acceleration of soil
erosion and accentuation in the variability of rainfall distribution as a result of long
term shifting cultivation in Borail Wildlife Sanctuary might be detrimental for conservation of wildlife and biodiversity. This necessitates sanctuary-community interaction for strengthening the sanctuary-community relationship in order to persuade
the local communities to take up alternative forms of livelihood in order to protect
the sanctuary. However, the local villagers were not willing to take part in the current conservation activities which may be attributed to their low level of education
and lack of environmental awareness. The traditional beliefs of a section of fringe
villagers particularly in protecting non-human primates and banyan trees hold key
to participatory wildlife and biodiversity conservation programmes, which the government agencies, policymakers as well as non-governmental organizations might
utilize for successful protected area management coupled with enhanced education
and creation of awareness among local communities. Moreover, creation of wildlife
corridors across the national highway might help save many wild animals of the
Borail Wildlife Sanctuary (which is particularly rich in reptile biodiversity) from
road kills by speeding vehicles.
Keywords Anthropogenic pressure · Land-use changes · Shifting cultivation ·
Livelihood issues · Protected area · Conservation attitude · Utilitarian value ·
Traditional conservation beliefs · Wildlife corridor · Sanctuary-community
interaction
1 Introduction
Wildlife conservation perspective generally refers to the attitude of local people living in and around protected areas towards conservation of wild animals and plant
species in their natural habitat. Attitudes play a major role in acceptance of environmental policies or management actions by the public at large, and conservationists
in particular (Winter et al. 2005). Historically, there have been different views on
functions of protected areas in relation to local residents. During the 1970s and
1980s, international organizations devoted to conservation of wildlife and biodiversity neither dealt with local community issues nor with the presence of indigenous or
rural people inside or around protected areas (Chapin et al. 2004). In general, people