Totem and taboo play a major role in biodiversity conservation. Totem usually means the animal or plant that is preserved or conserved by the members of a particular social group. Taboo means the prohibition of an act or the use of an object or word under pain of punishment. Originally it is a Polynesian word. Generally it is used as sacred or dangerous, unclean and forbidden meanings. The paper presents some conservation oriented totem and taboos from four districts of greater Mymensingh region of Bangladesh which are strictly involve in the life of ethnic communities. There are 11 species of animals and 6 species of plants have been recorded in this paper in the context of taboo. This paper presents also that 24 species of animals and 27 species of plants are related to the conservation oriented totem in the research area.
Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. General
1.2. Review of literature
1.3. Aims and objectives
2. STUDY AREA
2.1. Bangladesh
2.2. Study site
3. METHOD
4. RESULTS
4.1. Overall Documentation
4.2. Documentation of animal use for the conservation purpose by different ethnic communities
4.3. Documentation of plant use for the conservation purpose by different ethnic communities
4.4. Documented dominant animal species in different sacred groves
4.5. Documented plant species in different sacred groves
5. DISCUSSION
6. RECOMMENDATION
7. REFERENCES
Objectives and Thematic Focus
The primary objective of this thesis is to document and evaluate traditional conservation practices employed by various ethnic groups in the Greater Mymensingh region of Bangladesh. The research aims to identify how local indigenous knowledge, including beliefs, taboos, and traditional agricultural systems, contributes to biodiversity protection and the sustainable management of natural resources, given the increasing environmental threats and the rapid disappearance of traditional cultures.
- Documentation of animal and plant species used by ethnic communities for conservation purposes.
- Identification of local interests and traditional nomenclature for specific species.
- Assessment of the conservation value embedded within the cultural practices of ethnic groups.
- Analysis of the relationship between indigenous knowledge systems and modern biodiversity management.
- Exploration of sacred groves as crucial refuges for biodiversity in the region.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. General
The term indigenous knowledge (IK) is broadly defined as the local knowledge held by indigenous peoples or local knowledge unique to a given culture or society and is used here interchangeably with traditional knowledge. More specifically, we use the term traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) as a sub set of Indigenous Knowledge. It is defined here as a cumulative body of knowledge and believes, handed down through generation by cultural transmission, about the relationship of living beings (including humans) with one another and with their environment. Indigenous knowledge or Traditional Ecological Knowledge is an attribute of societies with historical continuity in resource use practices; by and large, these are non-traditional societies, many of them indigenous or tribal (Warren et al., 1993).
Traditional knowledge is important for its own sake and for its social and cultural value. But, it is also significant for a number of practical reasons, many of them relevant to biodiversity conservation .The following list is adapted from the IUCN Programme on Traditional knowledge for conservation.
1. TEK offers new biological knowledge and ecological insights;
2. Some TEK systems provide models for sustainable resource management;
3. TEK is relevant for protected areas and conservation education;
4. The use of TEK is often crucial for development planning; and
5. TEK may be used in environmental assessment
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter defines indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge, highlighting its vital importance for biodiversity conservation and its role in complementing scientific management approaches.
2. STUDY AREA: This section describes the geographic and ecological context of the Greater Mymensingh region, including a detailed breakdown of land types and the specific ethnic communities surveyed.
3. METHOD: This chapter outlines the research design, which combines primary data collection through field visits and interviews with secondary data sources to assess natural resource use patterns.
4. RESULTS: This section presents the comprehensive documentation of animal and plant species used for conservation by eight different ethnic communities, including detailed taxonomic information and specific cultural uses.
5. DISCUSSION: This chapter interprets the field findings, analyzing the underlying social restraints, traditional ethos, and folklore that guide indigenous conservation practices.
6. RECOMMENDATION: This final section provides policy suggestions for integrating traditional knowledge into modern forestry management and emphasizes the need for legal protections for community biodiversity knowledge.
7. REFERENCES: A comprehensive bibliography listing the academic literature, reports, and traditional knowledge documentation used throughout the research.
Keywords
Indigenous knowledge, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Biodiversity conservation, Greater Mymensingh, Ethnic communities, Sacred groves, Taboos, Ethnozoology, Agro-ecosystems, Sustainable resource management, Mandi, Hajong, Koch, Wildlife, Cultural ethos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary purpose of this research?
The study aims to document and evaluate the traditional conservation practices of various ethnic groups in the Greater Mymensingh region to demonstrate how indigenous knowledge contributes to the protection of local biodiversity.
What are the main thematic areas covered in the work?
The research focuses on indigenous resource management, the role of sacred groves, the use of taboos and totems in species protection, and the cultural significance of biodiversity to local tribes.
Which scientific methods are utilized for data collection?
The research relies on intensive fieldwork, participant observation, household interviews, group discussions, and case studies to gather primary data on ethnobiological knowledge and conservation practices.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body provides detailed documentation of animal and plant species used by specific ethnic groups for conservation purposes, categorized by their cultural and medicinal utility, and discusses the socio-ecological factors driving these practices.
Which ethnic groups are highlighted in the study?
The research documents the practices of several ethnic communities, including the Mandi, Hajong, Koch, Dalu, Hodi, Banai, Rajbongshi, and Khatrio Barman.
What key terms characterize the thesis?
The thesis is characterized by terms such as traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), sacred groves, indigenous resource management, and biodiversity protection.
How do sacred groves function as a conservation tool according to the author?
Sacred groves serve as protected habitat patches where religious beliefs and taboos strictly prohibit the felling of trees or the harming of animals, allowing these sites to function as significant refuges for local biodiversity.
What is the significance of the "taboos" mentioned in the study?
Taboos act as informal, unwritten social rules that regulate human behavior and limit the over-exploitation of natural resources, providing a traditional framework for long-term ecological sustainability.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Bibhuti Bhushan Mitra (Autor:in), 2006, Documenting and Evaluating Traditional Conservation Practice between the Ethnic Groups in Four Districts of Greater Mymensingh Region, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/365664
