HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies Volume 26 Number 1 People and Environment: Conservation and Management of Natural Article 7 Resources across the Himalaya No. 1 & 2 2006 A Passion for Pine: Forest Conservation Practices of the Apatani People of Arunachal Pradesh Michael A. Rechlin Principia College Vitu Varuni Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya Recommended Citation Rechlin, Michael A. and Varuni, Vitu. 2006. A Passion for Pine: Forest Conservation Practices of the Apatani People of Arunachal Pradesh. HIMALAYA 26(1). Available at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya/vol26/iss1/7 This Research Report is brought to you for free and open access by the DigitalCommons@Macalester College at DigitalCommons@Macalester College. It has been accepted for inclusion in HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Macalester College. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. A PASSION FOR PINE: FOREST CONSERVATION PRACTICES OF THE APATANI PEOPLE OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH The Apatani are a small tribal group in the northeastern India stale of Arunachal Pradesh who havc developed a culture around forest conservation that is unique among Himalayan peoples. Strict clan controls over tribal lands combine with private plantations to maintain a well protected forested landscape within their territory. Private, family owned and managed, plantat ions are primarily comprised of two locally non-i ndigenous species, blue pine (Pinus wallic!1ial1u) :ll1d a bamboo species known locally as bije (Phyllostuchys bambusaides). These two species are highly prized and central to the tribal culture.