Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 10 (2), April 2011, pp. 276-280 Role of indigenous knowledge system in conservation of forest resources–A case study of the Aka tribes of Arunachal Pradesh Gibji Nimachow 1* , RC Joshi 1 & Oyi Dai 2 1 Department of Geography, Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar 791 112, Arunachal Pradesh; 2 Department of Botany, Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar 791 112, Arunachal Pradesh E-mails: gibji26@yahoo.co.in; oyidai07@yahoo.com; joshircj@rediffmail.com Received 17.11.2009; revised 09.04.2010 Indigenous knowledge is the basis for local level decision-making in agriculture, healthcare, food preparation, education, natural resource management, and a host of other activities in rural communities. Forest resource conservation is a global issue. Arunachal Pradesh inhabits about 26 major tribes and number of sub tribes. Forest is their main source of economy and livelihood. Tribes have evolved Indigenous knowledge system (IKS) that is vital in conservation of forest resources. An attempt has been made to analyze the role of IKS, beliefs and sacred groves of the Aka tribes in conservation of forest resources. The indigenous knowledge systems of conservation of plants, animals, sacred groves, etc. have been discussed. Primary data has been generated by conducting survey in 37 villages inhabited by Aka tribe. Keywords: Forest conservation, Indigenous knowledge, Sacred groves, Taboos, Aka tribes IPC Int. Cl. 8 : A01G1/00, A01G3/00, A01K, A01N3/00 Akas are a small tribal group inhabiting the sub- Himalayan part of India. The name, Aka has been given by the people of the plains of Assam and the British officials, which means a painted, that may be because of their custom of painting forehead, nose and chin 1 . They are territorially divided into two sub-tribes namely Hrusso and Korou. Further, they are divided into a number of exogamous clans. They believe in Nyezino (Nyezi =sky and No= earth). They have a distinct feature of traditional dress, dialect, appearances, etc. They speak their own dialect, which is affiliated to Tibeto-Burman family of language. They belong to Mongoloid traits 2 . The Aka area is located in between 27°0’ N and 27°30’ N latitudes and 92°35’ E and 92°55’ E longitudes (Fig.1). The territory is surrounded by the Mijis on the North, Sonitpur district of Assam on the South, the Nyishis on the East and the Monpas on the West. The altitude of the area varies from about 200–2,500 m above mean sea level. The area is traversed by the Kameng river system. Bichom (Humtru) and Tenga (Hudgji) river form the main tributaries of Kameng drainage system 3 . In all there are 37 Aka villages (Fig. 2). The population of the Akas increased from 3,531 (1991 census) to 5,027 in 2006 (Fig. 3). Marriage in the society is a socially sanctioned institution. Nyetchidow is the major festival of the Akas. These people practice the traditional jhum or shifting cultivation. The Akas have their own indigenous knowledge system useful in the conservation of forest resources. Numerous species of plants are not extracted from the forests. Similarly, some animals are neither killed nor eaten by these people. They spare the immature and pregnant animal in the forests. Small saplings of certain plants are not destroyed. Only required plant parts are collected from the nearby forests. As such, these people have developed an eco-friendly relation with the surrounding forest ecosystem. Conservation and management of plant and animal resources is not a new concept for the tribal people. Conservation of forest resources refers to the sustainable utilization of the plant and animal resources. The study deals with the documentation of vital indigenous methods of conservation of plant and animal resources. These include various faith and beliefs that are pertinent in protection of sacred groves, from which extraction of plant material is restricted or tabooed (Fig. 4). The festivals are linked to the forests. Traditionally, they practice an annual hunting ritual after worshipping the forest god. During such hunting, they spare pregnant as well as immature animals. The herbal practitioners —————— * Corresponding author