Karbi Women and Environmental Conservation

Women in traditional societies have a close connection with the environment through their roles as farmers, collectors of water and firewood, caregivers to livestock and, sometimes, as priestesses and healers. The gender roles assigned in traditional societies bring women into direct contact with the natural resources for management of their daily household chores. Therefore, any loss of biodiversity has a direct impact on the lives of women, families and society at large. In the context of the Karbis, a major ethnic group of Assam, India, forests are central to their worldview and all aspects of their socio-cultural life. It is important to note that the Karbi belief system gives reverence to nature worship and the forest deities are called Longri Arnam. As such, sacred groves are among one of the best practices of biodiversity conservation that are also associated with traditional knowledge systems in different ecological zones. They are preserved mainly through observance of taboos and animistic rituals. In recent times, forest degradation has become a major concern and it is necessary to understand the role of traditional knowledge systems vis-a-vis their relation to ecological heritage and conservation. This paper examines the ways in which women in Karbi society have directly or indirectly acted as agents of environmental conservation. Using historical methodology, the study attempts to analyze interface between women and environment in the society with special reference to women's contribution to the society in combating climate change.