DOCSLIB.ORG

Traditional Knowledge and Zootherapeutic Use of Different Animals by Bhotiya Tribe: a Case Study from Uttarakhand, India

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Traditional Knowledge and Zootherapeutic Use of Different Animals by Bhotiya Tribe: a Case Study from Uttarakhand, India Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol.16 (4), October 2017, pp. 638-647 Traditional knowledge and zootherapeutic use of different animals by Bhotiya tribe: A case study from Uttarakhand, India Tripti Negi1 & LS Kandari2* 1Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Knowledge City, PO- Manauli, SAS Nagar, Sector-81, Mohali-140 306, Punjab, India; 2College of Agriculture and Rural Transformation, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia E- mails: [email protected]; [email protected] Received 23 June 2016, revised 28 October 2016 The present zootherapeutic study describes the traditional knowledge related to different animals and animal-derived products used as medicines by the Bhotiya tribe inhabited in three districts (Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and Chamoli) of Uttarakhand, India. A field survey was conducted by performing questionnaire and inventory based interviews with 150 selected respondents. A total of 39 animal species were recorded which were used for more than 40 ethnomedical purposes including fever, cough and cold, weakness, asthma, tuberculosis, eye ailments, rheumatism, etc. From this study, it was found that Bhotiyas are using 39 animal species for the treatment of over 40 different kinds of ailments. Mammals (n = 21, 53.85 %) exceeded invertebrates (n = 8, 20.51 %), aves (n = 5, 12.82 %), reptiles (n = 2, 5.13 %), fish (n = 2, 5.13 %) and amphibian (n = 1, 2.564 %), respectively. Animals as a whole or their by-products were used in the preparation of traditional medicine and flesh accounted the highest proportion among different by-products. In the present study, among 39 animals, 20 animals (51.3 %) were listed in IUCN Red Data List, were used for medicinal purposes. From the current study, it is concluded that this kind of traditional knowledge which is only confined among Bhotiyas need to be properly documented and also design strategies for the conservation and management of the valuable faunistic resources. Further, studies are required for experimental validation to confirm the presence of bioactive compounds in these traditional remedies and also explore the ways for sustainable use of these resources. Keywords: Conservation, Bhotiya tribe, Ethnomedicine, Faunal biodiversity, Traditional knowledge. IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K, A61D, A61D 7/00, A61K 36/00 Along with the floral diversity, faunal resources have long tradition in India and mostly used by the tribal been found to play a great role in human life. communities inhabited in around the forest. Their use Evidences show that human beings are familiar with in traditional medicines has also been documented in use of animals and plants for food, cloth, medicine, Ayurveda and Charaka Samhita. A large number of etc., since ancient times1,2. The dynamic relationship animals are also mentioned in Ayurvedic system8. The between human culture and animal resources in their knowledge about animals and their medicinal values environment is termed as ethnozoology3. The most is mainly enriched among tribal and ethnic important aspect in this context ramifies on traditional communities dispersed all over the country. The tribal mode of the healing of various kinds of human and rural communities are almost totally dependent on ailments using animals and/or animal products as local traditional medicinal system for their healthcare medicines, generally called zootherapy4. The needs as they generally reside in remote and far-flung zootherapeutic resources constitute the essential areas where modern health and medical facilities are ingredients in different traditional systems5. not easily available9,10. Thus, they use their traditional According to World Health Organization (WHO), knowledge for medical purpose and keep on passing most of the World’s population relies primarily on this knowledge from generation to generation in the plants and animals based medicines6. WHO reported family11. Nearly 18.5 % of total tribal populations in that about 8.7 % of 252 essential chemicals used in India are represented by the Indian Himalayan region various medicines come from animal origin7. The (IHR). Out of 573 schedule tribes of India, more than history of using animals and plants in medicines is 175 inhabit IHR12. However, the central Himalayan ____________ region (Uttarakhand) is inhabited by five major *Corresponding author schedule tribes such as the Jaunsaries, the Tharus, the NEGI & KANDARI: ZOOTHERAPEUTIC USES OF DIFFERENT ANIMALS IN UTTARAKHAND, INDIA 639 Bhotiyas, the Buxas and the Rajis or Van-Rawat13. In and close association with the alpine and sub-alpine spite of rich cultural and biological diversity in forests, these indigenous populations of high altitudes Uttarakhand, ethnozoological study is still in its utilize a wide range of biological resources in diverse infancy. Stray data/scattered information do exist in a ways. The extreme ecological conditions of high number of journals, books and reports but altitude terrains have shaped their life styles and comprehensive scientific zoological study is still cultures (Fig. 1). lacking. A large number of studies have been conducted in order to document the ethnobotanical or Survey methods ethnomedical knowledge of plant practices of Bhotiya The questionnaires survey and open ended tribe of Uttarakhand12,14-17 but the comprehensive interview/methods were employed to collect scientific ethnozoological study is still lacking. To information about animals and their products in best of our knowledge the only study reported on traditional medicines. Extensive surveys were traditional uses of animals in medicine and rituals by conducted from September 2014 to April 2015. Shoka tribes of Pithoragarh18. They have documented 38 animals species used for curing15 different diseases Ethnozoological study or disorders. Therefore, the present study is an The ethnomedicinal data including local name of attempt to undertake in-depth study as well as animals, mode of preparation, administration and use document ethnozoological uses of different were collected from Bhotiya people. The selection of animals/faunal species practiced by Bhotiya informants was based on their experience, recognition community for traditional healthcare system in central as expert and knowledged old aged person concerning Himalaya, Uttarakhand. traditional medicine. A total of 150 (90 male and 60 female) people were selected to collect Methodology ethnozoological information. We interviewed 90 (60 %) informants within age group of 55 yrs old and above, Study area and socio-economic profile of the people 2 followed by 38 informants (25 %) with 45 to 54 age Uttarakhand state encompasses an area of 53,483 Km , group and 22 (15 %) with 35–44 yrs age group. Two accounting 1.69 % of the total geographical area of basic approaches were adopted to obtain information. the country and nearly 15.5 % of Western Himalayas. First, interviews done based on asking questions Bhotiya tribal communities inhabited in higher about the prevalent human diseases, their diagnostic altitudinal region of Chamoli, Pithorogarh and knowledge of curing the diseases, and animals, their Bageshwar districts of Uttarakhand. Families are of parts and products used in the treatment. They were both joint and nuclear types and both the males and females have equal right on the affairs and decision making system of the family. These people are monogamous. They have two settlements, the upper or summer settlement where they stay from May-June to October-November and cultivate limited varieties of crop under rainfed condition and lower or winter settlement where they stay for rest of the year. In lower settlement they have limited land holding and cultivate wheat (Triticum aestivum), paddy (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), potato (Solanum tuberosum), etc. They also rear livestock which mostly include pack animals like sheep (Ovis aries), goat (Capra ageagrus hircus), mules (Equus asinus x Equus caballus), etc. The three main pursuits traditionally followed by Bhotiyas are the trade, pastoralism and agriculture. Traditionally, the cross- border trade with the Tibet is the main source of income for these people, before it was banned in 1962, after the Indo-China war. Due to their constant Fig. 1 Map of the study area 640 INDIAN J TRADIT KNOWLE, VOL. 16, No. 4, OCTOBER 2017 also asked about different purposes of animals, viz. animal species are used by large number of people medicinal, rituals, sacredness, etc. The second while a low value show that the respondents disagree approach was inventory based which involved priority on that spices to be used in the treatment of ailments. prepared list of animals being encountered in the region and subsequently interviewing the informants Results for name and use. As stated by them, their traditional The large number of tribal and traditional ethnozoological acquaintance was mainly attained communities of different parts of the country make through parental heritage and experience about use of animals and their products in human healthcare medicinal value of animal to heal their families or system and it has been well documented by various themselves. workers time to time (Table 1). The present study documents the traditional medicinal knowledge of Data analysis curing various kinds of ailments using different For the data analysis, fidelity level (FL) that animals and their products by the Bhotiya people demonstrates the percentage of respondents claiming inhabitants of Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and Chamoli the
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Conservation Action Plan the Ganges River Dolphin
    THE CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN FOR THE GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN 2010-2020 National Ganga River Basin Authority Ministry of Environment & Forests Government of India Prepared by R. K. Sinha, S. Behera and B. C. Choudhary 2 MINISTER’S FOREWORD I am pleased to introduce the Conservation Action Plan for the Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) in the Ganga river basin. The Gangetic Dolphin is one of the last three surviving river dolphin species and we have declared it India's National Aquatic Animal. Its conservation is crucial to the welfare of the Ganga river ecosystem. Just as the Tiger represents the health of the forest and the Snow Leopard represents the health of the mountainous regions, the presence of the Dolphin in a river system signals its good health and biodiversity. This Plan has several important features that will ensure the existence of healthy populations of the Gangetic dolphin in the Ganga river system. First, this action plan proposes a set of detailed surveys to assess the population of the dolphin and the threats it faces. Second, immediate actions for dolphin conservation, such as the creation of protected areas and the restoration of degraded ecosystems, are detailed. Third, community involvement and the mitigation of human-dolphin conflict are proposed as methods that will ensure the long-term survival of the dolphin in the rivers of India. This Action Plan will aid in their conservation and reduce the threats that the Ganges river dolphin faces today. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. R. K. Sinha , Dr. S. K. Behera and Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • A REVIEW of the STATUS and THREATS to WETLANDS in NEPAL Re! on the Occasion Of3 I UCN World Conservation Congress, 2004
    A REVIEW OF THE STATUS AND THREATS TO WETLANDS IN NEPAL re! On the occasion of3 I UCN World Conservation Congress, 2004 A REVIEW OF THE STATUS AND THREATS TO WETLANDS IN NEPAL IUCN Nepal 2004 IUCN The World Conservation Union IUCN The World Conservation Union The support of UNDP-GEF to IUCN Nepal for the studies and design of the national project on Wetland Conservation and Sustainable Use and the publication of this document is gratefully acknowledged. Copyright: © 2004 IUCN Nepal Published June 2004 by IUCN Nepal Country Office Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: IUCN Nepal (2004). A Review o(the Status andThreats to Wetlands in Nepal 78+v pp. ISBN: 99933-760-9-4 Editing: Sameer Karki and Samuel Thomas Cover photo: Sanchit Lamichhane Design & Layout: WordScape, Kathmandu Printed by: Jagadamba Press, Hattiban, Lalitpur Available from: IUCN Nepal, P.O. Box 3923, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: (977-1) 5528781,5528761,5526391, Fax:(977-I) 5536786 email: [email protected], URL: http://www.iucnnepal.org Foreword This document is the result of a significant project development effort undertaken by the IUCN Nepal Country Office over the last two years, which was to design a national project for conservation and sustainable use of wetlands in the country.This design phase was enabled by a UNDP-GEF PDF grant.
    [Show full text]
  • Species Composition and Invasion Risks of Alien Ornamental Freshwater
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Species composition and invasion risks of alien ornamental freshwater fshes from pet stores in Klang Valley, Malaysia Abdulwakil Olawale Saba1,2, Ahmad Ismail1, Syaizwan Zahmir Zulkifi1, Muhammad Rasul Abdullah Halim3, Noor Azrizal Abdul Wahid4 & Mohammad Noor Azmai Amal1* The ornamental fsh trade has been considered as one of the most important routes of invasive alien fsh introduction into native freshwater ecosystems. Therefore, the species composition and invasion risks of fsh species from 60 freshwater fsh pet stores in Klang Valley, Malaysia were studied. A checklist of taxa belonging to 18 orders, 53 families, and 251 species of alien fshes was documented. Fish Invasiveness Screening Test (FIST) showed that seven (30.43%), eight (34.78%) and eight (34.78%) species were considered to be high, medium and low invasion risks, respectively. After the calibration of the Fish Invasiveness Screening Kit (FISK) v2 using the Receiver Operating Characteristics, a threshold value of 17 for distinguishing between invasive and non-invasive fshes was identifed. As a result, nine species (39.13%) were of high invasion risk. In this study, we found that non-native fshes dominated (85.66%) the freshwater ornamental trade in Klang Valley, while FISK is a more robust tool in assessing the risk of invasion, and for the most part, its outcome was commensurate with FIST. This study, for the frst time, revealed the number of high-risk ornamental fsh species that give an awareness of possible future invasion if unmonitored in Klang Valley, Malaysia. As a global hobby, fshkeeping is cherished by both young and old people.
    [Show full text]
  • 373 Distribution Or Jats According to Settlement
    - 373 DISTRIBUTION OR JATS ACCORDING TO SETTLEMENT ALTITUDES IN MIDDLE-NEPAL Walter A. Frank I. Nepal is a country of extreme diversities. The alti­ tudes range from a mere 70 m above sea level in her south­ ern plains up to the highest peak of the world with almost 9.000 m. The distance between these two levels is only 120 km, and within this short distance all the climatical zones of the earth can be found, with their corresponding flora and fauna. Whilst the general direction of the moun ­ tain ranges is roughly east to west, all the great rivers flow transversally north to south. The population is multi ethnical and even multi-racial. To complicate the matter further, ethnic groups have no separate settlement areas, but the settlement pattern is a thoroughly mixed one, with ethnic majorities here and there. Since 1969 I attempt to work out an ethnical demography of the country. The first results, concerning the middle part of the country, were published in 1974. They cover an area of about 1/4 of the country and approximately 1/3 of her population. (Plate I) II. One of the points of interest in this investigation was, whether certain strata can be found within the popula tion, according to jat (ethnical group) and settlement alt tudes - an assumption, which can be found in many publica ­ tions about Nepal. Therefore, together with the population data, we collected the altitudes of all the investigated village communities (gaon panchayats). As we worked on the files of local authorities, our investigation follows systematically the panchayat system, which is the admin- - 374 - istrative and political system of the country.
    [Show full text]
  • Protected Areas in News
    Protected Areas in News National Parks in News ................................................................Shoolpaneswar................................ (Dhum- khal)................................ Wildlife Sanctuary .................................... 3 ................................................................... 11 About ................................................................................................Point ................................Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary................................ ...................................... 3 ......................................................................................... 11 Kudremukh National Park ................................................................Tiger Reserves................................ in News................................ ....................................................................... 3 ................................................................... 13 Nagarhole National Park ................................................................About................................ ......................................................................................................................................... 3 .................................................................... 14 Rajaji National Park ................................................................................................Pakke tiger reserve................................................................................. 3 ...............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Coldwater Fish Diversity of India and Its Sustainable Development A
    Coldwater Fish Diversity of India and Its Sustainable Development A. K. Singh* and M. S. Akhtar ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal-263136, Nainital, Uttarakhand *Email: [email protected] Introduction India is one of the mega biodiversity hotspots in the world and occupies the 9th position in terms of freshwater mega biodiversity (Mittermeier et al., 1997). Biodiversity is essential for stabilization of ecosystems, protection of overall environmental quality, for understanding intrinsic worth of all species on the earth (Ehrlich and Wilson, 1991). The country is bestowed with vast and varied coldwater/hill fishery resources which are spread over the Himalayan and peninsular regions as upland rivers, streams, high and low altitude natural lakes and reservoirs. There are around Fig. 1 : Number of species present in the North-East India 8,243 km long streams and rivers, 20,500 ha (Ali, 2010) natural lakes, 50,000 ha of reservoirs, both natural and manmade, and 2500 ha brackish water lakes in central Himalaya and 91 from the Deccan plateau the high altitude (Mahanta & Sarma, 2010). The (Fig. 1). Coldwater rivers and hill streams are known for The commercially important Indian coldwater their high velocity water fall, rapid cascades, deep species are Tor tor, T. putiora, T. mosal, T. pools and substratum comprising bed rock - progeneius, T. khudree, T. mussullah, T. mala- boulder - sand. These vast and varied water baricus, Naziritor chelynoides, Neolissochielus resources in the uplands harbour rich ichthy- wynaadensis, N. hexagonolepis, Schizotho- ofaunal diversity comprising large populations of raichthys progastus, S. esocinus, Schizothorax indigenous and exotic, cultivable and non- richardsonii, S.
    [Show full text]
  • A Case Study of Jaad Bhotiya Community
    International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies (IJIRAS) ISSN: 2394-4404 Volume 7 Issue 4, April 2020 Changing Pattern Of Transhumance Pastoralism In Upper Bhagirathi Basin: A Case Study Of Jaad Bhotiya Community Vinod Singh Prof. D. C. Goswami Lecturer of Geography Assistant Director, Higher Education, Uttarakhand Abstract: Transhumance Pastoralism is ancient occupations which play an important role in the ecology and economy of the upper Bhagirathi basin. Jaad (Bhotiya) is a saddled Tribe of Uttarakhand. In winter the Jaad (Bhotiya) peoples live at Dunda and during t the summer they move to higher places Bagori and Harsil. These pastoralists move from lower altitudes of the sivalik Himalaya to higher Bugyal (alpine) regions in summer and return back to lower altitudes with the onset of autumn. In the recent time Jaad (Bhotiya) continually left the transhumant Pastoralism and attracting to others occupation. Keywords: Transhumance, Pastoralism, Jaad Bhotiya, Dunda, Bagori, Bugyals. I. INTRODUCTION The study area is located in border district Uttarkashi of Uttarakhand in upper Bhagirathi basin. Bagori (30002ʹ N/ 78045ʹ E) and Dunda (30042ʹ N / 78020ʹ E)are such two villages in upper Bhagirathi basin, where the Jaad Bhotiya tribe live. Agriculture (Rajma) and horticulture are the subsidiary practices of the Jaad community; they are however engaged in transhumance. Bhotiya is a one of the most popular scheduled tribe of Uttarakhand, people of this community living in upper Bhagirathi basin are known as Jaad. The most of the families of Jaad community move Dunda to Bagori in summer, but one or two family members move with their herds of sheep and goats between the shivaliks touching Dehradun, Rishikesh region and the high altitude Bugyals.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 5: Valued Environmental Component: Aquatic Habitat
    CHAPTER 5: VALUED ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT: AQUATIC HABITAT Rationale for Screening Baseline Conditions The impacts of hydropower development on aquatic Elevation Profile of the Trishuli River Basin biodiversity are well known and are summarized in (TRB) IFC (2018a). In addition to barriers to fish migration and dispersal, hydropower projects may also alter Figure 5.1 illustrates the elevation profile of the Trishuli downstream flow and sediment volumes, timing, River and the distribution of elevation and temperature predictability, and flow change rates, which, together zones. The upper reach of the river from the Chinese with temperature, water clarity, and other water quality border up to the Upper Trishuli-3B hydropower plant changes, can alter species composition and relative (HPP) is steep with an average slope of 3 percent. abundance, and can disrupt flow-related cues that From Upper Trishuli-3B to just above the Tadi Khola trigger important fish life milestones such as migration confluence, the river is moderately steep, with an average or spawning. slope of 1 percent. From there onward, downstream of Super Trishuli, the Trishuli River has a relatively mild slope with an average slope of 0.3 percent. Map 5.1 of the TRB portrays these zones geographically. Figure 5.1 Elevation Zones of the Trishuli River with Slope and Temperature Zones 2,500 Moderately steep Steep section of river section of river Section of river with mild slope 2,000 Cold water zone Cold-cool water zone Cool-warm water zone Rasuwagadhi Rasuwa Bhotekoshi 1,500
    [Show full text]
  • Learning More About the Ganga River Basin's Golden Mahseer Fish To
    © John Brown Learning more about the Ganga river basin’s golden mahseer fish to better protect it India is home to 15 of the world’s approximately 47 species of mahseer, freshwater fish from the Cyprinidae family, which Read this case study also includes carp and tench.1 The name mahseer roughly Contact the WWF-India team translates as ‘mahi’ (fish) and ‘sher’ (tiger), hence it being known as the tiger of the river.2 The golden mahseer (Tor putitora) is listed as ‘endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.3 The golden mahseer is the mahseer species on which WWF-India is primarily focusing its conservation efforts, due to the species’ conservation status as well as its declining population trends. Golden mahseer typically live in fast-moving, relatively cold waters, inhabiting hill streams with a rocky and stony substrate, although they’ve also successfully adapted to Map of the Ganga river basin introduction in lakes and reservoirs. The golden mahseer is found in the Himalayan foothills, the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra basins as well as in the south of India. Most of India’s golden mahseer are found in Uttarakhand state, where it is the official state fish. The mahseer can grow to a large size, 1 A tiger among fish: the Ganga’s golden mahseer up to 275cm and 54kg, and can live over 17 years; due to its size, appearance and behaviour, the mahseer is particularly prized by sports fishers, and has been since the time of British rule.4 The golden mahseer’s lifecycle is intimately connected with the river’s flow: adult fish inhabit foothill rivers and migrate upstream in monsoon conditions to reach suitable spawning grounds; as such, the fish’s survival is dependent on the A view of the Kolu river near preservation of habitat connectivity and adequate flows.
    [Show full text]
  • Tor Putitora) in Pakistan: a RAPD Based Study
    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGY ISSN Print: 1560–8530; ISSN Online: 1814–9596 16–290/2016/18–6–1181–1187 DOI: 10.17957/IJAB/15.0224 http://www.fspublishers.org Full Length Article Genetic Diversity in Different Populations of Mahseer (Tor putitora) in Pakistan: A RAPD Based Study Nuzhat Shafi1*, Javaid Ayub1, Nasra Ashraf1, Afsar Mian2 and Inayat ullah Malik3 1Department of Zoology, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir 2Bioresource Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan 3Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan *For correspondence: [email protected] Abstract Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) based PCR amplification of nuclear DNA was carried out from collected samples of Golden mahseer (Tor putitora: Hamilton, 1822) from Rivers Poonch, Jhelum and Mangla Reservoir of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Rivers Swat, Indus (Khyber Pukhtunkhwa) and Hingol (Baluchistan) of Pakistan. A total of 197 bands were generated by 16 RAPD primers with 87.73% polymorphic and 43.75% unique bands. Swat River’s population exhibited the highest level of polymorphism and held the highest genetic diversity (73%) followed by population of Mangla reservoir (57%), River Indus (54.31%), River Jhelum (44.67%), River Poonch (37.06%) and River Hingol (2.03%). Heterogeneity (Ht, 0.19), genetic diversity within population (Hs, 0.13), between populations (Dst, 0.05) and genetic differentiation constant (Gst, 0.022) were low. Gene flow between populations (3.22) was high. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) ascribed higher variability (79%) within population factors. UPGMA dendrogram based on Nei’s genetic similarities and distances separated two main clusters of populations; cluster one subdivided into two; 1) were identified the populations of Poonch River, Jhelum River and Mangla Reservoir, and 2) swat River and Indus River.
    [Show full text]
  • 8 from Geographical Periphery to Conceptual Centre: the Travels of Ngagchang Shakya Zangpo and the Discovery of Hyolmo Identity
    Davide Torri 8 From Geographical Periphery to Conceptual Centre: The Travels of Ngagchang Shakya Zangpo and the Discovery of Hyolmo Identity This chapter will explore and analyze dynamics of cultural production in a particular context, the Helambu valley (Nepal). The valley is home to the Hyolmo, a Nepalese minority of Tibetan origin, whose culture seems to have been shaped by the particular agency, within a sacred geography (Yolmo Gangra), of a specific class of cultural agents, namely the so-called reincarnated lamas and treasure discoverers. One of them, in particular, could be considered the cultural hero par excellence of the Hyolmo due to his role in establishing and maintaining long lasting relationships between distant power places, and to his spiritual charisma. His legacy still lives on among the people of Helambu, and his person is still revered as the great master who opened the outer, inner, and secret doors of the Yolmo Gangra. The role of treasure discov- erers – or tertön (gter ston)1 – in the spread of Buddhism across the Himalayas is related to particular conceptions regarding the landscape and especially to the key-theme of the “hidden lands” or beyul (sbas yul). But the bonds linking a community to its territory are not simply an historical by-product. As in the case of the Hyolmo, the relationship between people, landscape, and memory is one of the main features of the identity-construction processes that constitute one of the most relevant elements of contemporary Nepalese politics. 1 Tibetan names and expressions are given in phonetic transcription, with a transliteration ac- cording to the Wylie system added in brackets after their first occurrence (or after a slash when entirely inside brackets).
    [Show full text]
  • List of Threatened Plant Species in Sikkim
    NOTICE BY SIKKIM BIODIVERSITY BOARD The Sikkim Biodiversity Board under Forests, Environment and Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim is in the process of finalizing the lists of threatened species of Flora and Fauna for Sikkim to be notified under Section 38 of the Indian Biological Diversity Act 2002 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change, Government of India. The same are being prepared by inputs from concerned Central and State Government agencies for public knowledge and comments from individuals and organizations familiar with the species. All are requested to send their comments / views on or before 05.09.2015 at [email protected]. No comments / views shall be considered after the stipulated date. The two draft lists of threatened plants and animals may be seen below. 1. DRAFT LIST OF THREATENED PLANT SPECIES IN SIKKIM Compiled with inputs from Lalit K. Rai, S. Z. Lucksom, Usha Lachungpa, Bejoy Gurung, S. T. Lachungpa, Dr. M. Sanjappa, Dr. Tika Prasad Sharma, Dr. D. K. Pradhan, Dr. Shiva Kumar Sharma, Dr. Bharat Kumar Pradhan, Dr. B. S. Kholia, Dr. Avishek Bhattacharjee, Dr. D. K. Singh, Dr. Devendra Singh and Dr. Praveen Kumar Verma Scientific Name Remarks ACERACEAE Acer hookeri var. majus Kapasey Acer osmastoni Kapasey; Only natural hybrid among the Indian Maples and is Endemic to Eastern Himalaya APIACEAE Pimpinella wallichii Burnet Saxifrage; First collected in 1870 by Clarke and no sighting has been recorded till date Pternopetalum radiatum Endemic to eastern Himalaya; It has not been
    [Show full text]