Keywords
Uttarakhand
PVTG
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Forest Rights
Conservation
How to Cite
Abstract
Background: The Raji tribe, an indigenous community of Uttarakhand, India, inhabits the Central Himalaya along the India–Nepal border. Classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in 1975 due to long-standing neglect, they are historically known as “Vanraji,” “Vanrauts,” or “Kings of the Forest.” Their existence is deeply tied to the health and integrity of Himalayan ecosystems. Aim/Method: This paper examines the relationship between environmental conservation and tribal rights, focusing on the Raji tribe. Using secondary literature, it explores their traditional ecological knowledge and role as biodiversity custodians. The study assesses the implications and effectiveness of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA), in securing Raji individual and community forest rights, highlighting ground realities, challenges, and achievements. It also investigates conflicts between mainstream development models (e.g., infrastructure projects, conservation-led displacement) and the Raji’s self-determination and socio-cultural fabric. Result: The study reveals that the Raji face socio-economic vulnerability, cultural erosion, and livelihood disruptions due to historical injustices and modern development pressures. It argues that environmental conservation success depends on recognizing and safeguarding tribal land rights and sustaining traditional practices. Conclusion: A human-rights-based approach to conservation and development is essential. Culturally sensitive, participatory models can empower the Raji to maintain their biodiversity stewardship while achieving equitable integration and sustainable well-being.
References
1. Agrawal, Bina. 2010. Gender and Green Governance: The Political Economy of Women’s Presence within and beyond Community Forestry. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
2. Baviskar, Amita. 1995. In the Belly of the River: Tribal Conflicts over Development in the Narmada Valley. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
3. Berreman, Gerald D. 1963. Hindus of the Himalayas: Ethnography and Change. Berkeley: University of California Press.
4. Blaikie, Piers, and Harold Brookfield. 1987. Land Degradation and Society. London: Methuen.
5. Bullard, Robert D. 2008. “Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental Quality.” In Environmental Justice: An Introductory Reader, 70–76. New York: New York University Press.
6. Cernea, Michael M. 2000. “Risks, Safeguards and Reconstruction: A Model for Population Displacement and Resettlement.” Economic and Political Weekly 35 (41): 3659–78.
7. Chaudhuri, Buddhadeb. 1990. Tribal Transformation in India. 21st ed. Vol. 3. Tribal Studies of India series. New Delhi: Inter-India Publications.
8. Colchester, Marcus. 2004. Conservation Policy and Indigenous Peoples. Moreton-in-Marsh: Forest Peoples Programme.
9. Fernandes, Walter, and Enakshi Ganguli Thukral. 1989. Development, Displacement, and Rehabilitation: Issues for a National Debate. New Delhi: Indian Social Institute.
10. Gadgil, Mahadev, and Ramachandra Guha. 1992. This Fissured Land: An Ecological History of India. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
11. Gibson, Clark C., and Arun Agrawal. 1999. “Enchantment and Disenchantment: The Role of Community in Natural Resource Conservation.” World Development 27 (4): 629–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(98)00161-2.
12. Guha, Ramachandra. 1989. The Unquiet Woods: Ecological Change and Peasant Resistance in the Himalayas. Berkeley: University of California Press.
13. Kala, Chandra Prakash. 2004. “Indigenous Uses and Structure of Chir Pine Forest in Uttaranchal Himalaya, India.” International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology 11 (2): 205–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504500409469824.
14. Kumar, Neha, Nandini Sundar, and Sanjoy Deb. 2009. “The Forest Rights Act and Conservation: An Agenda for Research.” Economic and Political Weekly 44 (45): 44–50.
15. Lele, Sharachchandra, Ajit Menon, and Naveen Ram. 2010. “Indigenous Peoples and Conservation: Towards a Rights-Based Approach.” Conservation and Society 8 (1): 1–10.
16. Mamo, Dwayne. 2023. The Indigenous World 2023. 37th ed. Copenhagen: Eks-Skolens Grafisk Design & Tryk.
17. Negi, Bhawna, V. S. Negi, S. K. Rana, I. D. Bhatt, S. Manasi, and Sunil Nautiyal. 2025. “Role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Shaping Climate-Resilient Villages in the Himalaya.” Journal of Environmental Management. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124325.
18. Negi, Vikram S., R. K. Maikhuri, P. C. Phondani, and L. S. Rawat. 2010. “An Inventory of Indigenous Knowledge and Cultivation Practices of Medicinal Plants in Govind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary, Central Himalaya, India.” International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management 6 (3–4): 96–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/21513732.2011.575385.
19. Ostrom, Elinor. 1990. Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
20. Phartiyal, Mahika. 2023. Raji Tribe of Uttarakhand: Report of an Action-Oriented Study on the Current Social, Economic, and Political Status of the Raji Tribe in India. New Delhi: Association for Rural Planning and Action (ARPAN).
21. Rana, Rita Singh. 2024. “Raji Tribes of Uttarakhand (India): History, Society, and Contemporary Development.” Shodhshauryam: International Scientific Refereed Research Journal 7 (4): 89–94. https://doi.org/10.32628/SHISRRJ.
22. Rawat, Ajay Singh. 2021. Uttarakhand ka Samagra Rajnetik Itihas. Dehradun: Ankit Prakashan.
23. Rawat, Balwant, Vikram S. Negi, Janhvi Mishra Rawat, Lalit M. Tewari, and Laxmi Rawat. 2013. “The Potential Contribution of Wildlife Sanctuaries to Forest Conservation: A Case Study from Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary.” Journal of Mountain Science 10 (5): 854–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-013-2514-y.
24. Rawat, Shalini, P. K. Sharma, Suman Naithani, and V. P. Uniyal. 2025. “Conserving Nature, Honoring Tradition: Insights from Johar Valley, Uttarakhand.” Environment Conservation Journal 26 (2): 551–60. https://doi.org/10.36953/ECJ.30892990.
25. Saxena, N. C. 2011. “The Forest Rights Act: An Assessment.” Economic and Political Weekly 46 (11): 65–72.
26. Shahabuddin, Ghazala, and M. Dinesh Rao. 2009. “Conservation Conflicts: Case Studies from Protected Areas in India.” Conservation and Society 7 (2): 177–89.
27. Vidyarthi, L. P., and Binay Kumar Rai. 1977. The Tribal Culture of India. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company.
28. Xaxa, Virginius. 2008. State, Society, and Tribes: Issues in Post-Colonial India. New Delhi: Pearson Education India.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.