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APSC Answer Writing (Daily) based on Assam Tribune – 21/05/2025

For APSC CCE and other Assam Competitive examinations aspirants, practicing Daily Answer Writing is vital. This blog covers the most important Main question and its model Answer from the Assam Tribune today (21-05-2025).

📝 Mains Question:

Q. Discuss the significance of tribal communities in biodiversity conservation with special reference to the Northeastern region of India. Suggest measures to integrate traditional knowledge into formal conservation strategies.
(GS Paper 3 – Environment | APSC GS Paper 5 – Assam-Specific Environmental and Tribal Issues)
Word Limit: 250

✅ Model Answer:

🔹 Introduction

India’s Northeastern region, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, is home to diverse tribal communities whose traditional knowledge and practices have played a vital role in conserving local flora, fauna, and ecosystems. Their contribution has gained renewed focus during events like International Biodiversity Day (May 22, 2025), highlighting grassroots conservation.

🔍 Role of Tribal Communities in Biodiversity Conservation

Agro-Ecological Practices
- Systems like the Apatani rice-fish farming in Arunachal integrate productivity with ecological balance.
Sacred Groves
- Tribes like the Karbi and Khasi maintain forest patches preserved for spiritual reasons, fostering biodiversity.
Seed Preservation
- Indigenous farmers maintain community seed banks of native rice, millet, and medicinal plants.
Jhum Agroforestry
- While often critiqued, shifting cultivation, when regulated, supports diverse cropping and soil regeneration.
Sustainable Harvesting
- Controlled extraction of bamboo, herbs, and NTFPs sustains livelihoods without depleting resources.

⚠️ Challenges

Issue	Impact
Modernization & Youth Migration	Erosion of traditional ecological knowledge
Forest Encroachment	Deforestation driven by external actors
Lack of Legal Recognition	Informal conservation efforts not acknowledged in forest laws
Climate Stress	Alters patterns of rainfall, affecting traditional agriculture

🛠️ Way Forward

Document Traditional Knowledge using local universities and biodiversity registers
Support Community Conservation Areas (CCAs) under the Biological Diversity Act
Eco-Cultural Tourism to link conservation with income generation
Integrate with State Forest Policies in Assam and NE states
Youth Engagement Programs to revive ecological roles and storytelling traditions

🧩 Conclusion

Tribal communities are natural custodians of biodiversity, and their inclusion is key to climate-resilient, culturally-rooted conservation. Assam and the Northeast must move beyond top-down models and empower community-led conservation through policy, recognition, and sustainable incentives.

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