Biodiversity Conservation And Socioecological Significance In Community Of Ukhrul Districts Of Manipur: A Case Study

Abstract

Traditional communities around the world are confronting a variety of issues as a result of declining per capita land availability and a developing market economy. This has resulted in a shift in land usage in which polyculture of a variety of traditional crops is gradually being replaced by a market-driven monoculture system of agriculture to suit market needs on one side and maximise production on the other. As a result, traditional homegarden crops are under threat in many regions. To examine the impact of such change in terms of crop species and their socioecological significance, a study on conservation of traditional crops in homegardens in Tangkhul community in Ukhrul District of Manipur, India was conducted.  In homegardens, 73 plant species with economic, social, and cultural significance from 27 families were identified. The findings of this study reveal that the Tangk hul traditional population possesses extensive indigenous knowledge of biodiversity protection in their small homegarden locations. Understanding traditional knowledge about HGs and how it influences species selection in the local community should aid in the development of improved techniques for the sustainable management of traditional homegardens. Traditional groups should be encouraged to conserve such rich biodiversity, and the government should offer adequate support so that they can withstand market-driven pressure.