188-Forest Dynamics and its Social Implication in the Foothills of Assam-Nagaland Border of India.

Abstract

Any change that takes place in a transitional area shows its impact in a distinctive way. The forest cover changes in the transitional foothills between the plains of Assam and the hills of Nagaland obviously show such distinction. These have been revealed from studies conducted in the area using topographical sheets prepared by the Survey of India, satellite imagery, maps and other reports prepared by different governmental and non-governmental agencies and also from personal visit to the concerned area. Setting up of villages, practice of jhuming (shifting cultivation on the slope), construction of roads, educational institutions, religious institutions like churches, diesel engine operated saw mills, business enterprises, opening up of tea gardens and others in the areas previously occupied by a thick forest cover have brought about a permanent change to the foothills environment which has a fragile ecological set up. But, injudicious developmental activities cause environmental degradation and ecological disturbance leading to imbalance between the environment and the socio-economic development of the society. The social implications of these activities, which are going on the forests of the foothills assume a significant dimension. The impact of these activities in the social aspects of the area is equally appealing and enticing as their impact in the physical aspects of the study area and its surrounding. Against this backdrop, some of the social aspects of the study area have been observed through personal survey and certain first hand data and information have been generated. The observation reveals an occupational shift among the workers of the villages, alteration in the age-structure of the population and some others