STUDY ON GRAZING AND CATTLE MIGRATION IN JIGME SINGYE WANGCHUCK NATIONAL PARK (original) (raw)

The study on pasture and grazing in JSWNP is conducted to establish the extent of grazing area in the national park while also attempting to understand the practice of migratory cattle grazing and its impact on forests. The study is carried out in two phases. The first was aimed at ascertaining the residential cattle population in the park, their grazing behaviour and the threats like predation. The second phase focused on the migratory cattle herders from outside the park and their seasonal grazing habit. It also attempted to map the pasturelands in the park. The JSWNP spans over eleven geogs of five districts. Livestock rearing is an occupation almost all the park residents adopt, besides farming. While most farmers in the park area own a few cattle heads and do not practice seasonal migration, those from Retey village under Jigme Choeling geog are agro-pastoral farmers rearing huge number of cattle heads. It was learnt that about eight households rear over 300 cattle heads in a traditional migratory system. The subtropical forests of the JSWNP, since ancient times, served as pastureland for the migratory cattle herders from far-flung villages, including Bumthang. Most of the pasturelands are found in Langthel, Nabji and Tingtibi range. In Nabji range, about six households from Bumthang rear their cattle there. Three households occupy Langthel and five more are in Tingtibi range. Migration takes place to warmer, southern regions during winter. The cattle that migrate to the park are largely from Chumey geog in Bumthang to Langthel and Korphu geogs in Trongsa, Trong geog in Zhemgang and Jigmechoeling geog in Sarpang. Besides, there are certain herds of yak that graze in alpine region of the national park during summer. These are inter-migration in altitudinal movement from a dzongkhag to another (Bumthang to Trongsa, Zhemgang, Sarpang, Wangdue to Trongsa). Intramigration within the dzongkhag, from a geog to another is also prevalent. (Tangsibji to Langthel, Drakteng to Tangsibji). An approximate area of 348 kilometre-square is found to be covered be migratory cattle. v While the overall trend in cattle migration is gradually dwindling in terms of number of herds as well as cattle population, it is still prevalent in Chumey geog in Bumthang, Jigmechoeling geog (Retey village) in Sarpang and Phobji geog in Wangduephodrang. For these migratory herders, livestock is the major occupation and the only source of income. The zonation report of the national park has designated 767.03 kilometre square (44.52 percent of the total park area) as multiple use zone, within which are the park residents and their resource extraction areas. It is also under this zone that the pastures of the cattle herders are found. Unlike in the past where individuals owned the pasturelands (tsamdrogs), government today has taken charge in keeping with the Land Act, 2007. These pasturelands are government plots in town areas while it has been reverted to Government Reserved Forest in rural areas. In JSWNP, most of the tsamdrogs belong to residents of Bumthang who have grazing rights during winters. There are about 14 households who use the park for at least six winter months for the over 1,160 cattle heads they own. The legislations protect property rights over pastures. The range lands become the asset of the nation where herdsmen only have the usufruct rights. The bulk of cattle in the park still comprise local breeds. Except for a few villages where rearing crossbreeds are common, all the resident and migratory cattle are local. This also means the impact of grazing is going to be adverse with many soil trampling incidences, excessive browsing, increased number of depredation, etc. Therefore, JSWNP should put efforts to explore options to encourage rearing improved breeds to reduce rearing non-productive cattle. It would also be a good idea to develop backyard dairy units. Such initiative will increase dairy products, raise income and reduce grazing pressure on forests. The study conducted shows that grazing in the broadleaved forests has altered the composition of forest species because of excessive browsing of palatable species, leaving unpalatable ones in abundance. There are little evidences of lopping and felling fresh trees for fuel wood though cutting pole-sized trees are common for erecting temporary sheds. The practice of rotational grazing, where they spend short duration in each transit camp, is believed to have adverse impact on the ecosystem. vi Since migratory grazing is a tradition and practice of tsamdrogs are their traditional rights, it is often difficult for the park management to address the problems of imperceptible degradation of biodiversity. The temperate and sub-tropical areas in JSWNP are grazed throughout the season by the migratory and resident cattle while yaks scrape the alpine areas. The present intervention of park zoning would help reduce opening more forests for grazing. Regular awareness campaign among park residents as well as the migratory cattle herders would help curb the problem of excessive grazing. However, the number of cattle as well as cattle herders, as per the local information, has declined over the years and in the near future, there are chances of cattle migration practice coming to an end. While excessive grazing would be hazardous, certain degree of grazing is considered necessary for better ecosystem health. Community-based eco-tourism should be introduced in the park using migratory trails as trekking routes with involvement of local communities. Eco-tourism would bring tourists to rural areas and benefit local people from guiding the tourists, providing porter/pony, sparing rooms for guests, selling local dishes and handicrafts. Such livelihoods with enhanced economic opportunities in the rural areas will minimize migration of both cattle and people, thereby improving the living standards of the rural people.