Research Article | Published: 01 August 2021

Role of informal institutions in biodiversity conservation: Perspective of the Santhal tribe of India

Edwin Murmu, Bhupendra Singh Adhikari and Harsh Bardhan Vashistha

Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products | Volume: 27 | Issue: 3 | Page No. 139-146 | 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2021-X5Q5V1 | Cite this article

Abstract

The study provides insights into the role of an informal institution of the Santhal tribe of India in the conservation of biodiversity.  The data has been collected from 124 Santhal key informants from six tribal districts from the states of Jharkhand (Dumka, Pakur and Sahibganj) and West Bengal (Birbhum, Bankura and West Medinipur) through the methods of stratified sampling, chain-referrals, personal interactions, and focussed group discussions. The taboos associated with biodiversity conservation have been categorized into six categories such as segment taboo, specific-species taboo, life-stage taboo, temporal taboo, habitat taboo and method taboo.

Keywords

Ecosystem resilience, Natural resources, Socio-cultural mythology, Taboos, Totemism, Tribal community

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How to cite

Murmu, E., Adhikari, B.S. and Vashistha, H.B., 2020. Role of informal institutions in biodiversity conservation: Perspective of the Santhal tribe of India. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 27(3), pp.139-146. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2021-X5Q5V1

Publication History

Manuscript Received on 04 September 2020

Manuscript Revised on 16 March 2021

Manuscript Accepted on 19 March 2021

Manuscript Published on 01 August 2021

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