10.2190/3JA1-1CN3-N1UL-670N 3JA11CN3N1UL670N 4 Environmental Impact of Shifting Cultivation and its Management: A Case Study of Mizoram, India 249 267 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 3JA11CN3N1UL670N.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=3JA11CN3N1UL670N 3 Himanshu Joshi Kalpataru Kar University of Roorkee, India Aizawal, India Global concern about the environment at the Stockholm Conference in 1972 led several countries to assess the environmental impacts of their development activities. Unlike the case with developed countries, environmental problems in developing countries like India mostly arise due to the lack of balanced development. The ills of the continuing practice of shifting cultivation (jhum) in the northeastern region of India (Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal, Manipur, Tripura), other regions of the country (Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka), and the world (sections of Africa, Indonesia, Burma, and China) are now being realized. This study examines the adverse effect of shifting cultivation from a holistic view point. Quantification of the effects of management options on overall ‘system status’ is also attempted by means of the technique of composite programming. This allows alternative management strategies to be compared in light of their efficiency and their potential to arrest environmental degradation. G. S. I. (Geological Survey of India), <i>Geology and Minerals' of the States of India</i>, Miscellaneous Publication, Part IV, 1974. B. N. Okigbo, Improved Permanent Production System as an Alternative to Shifting Intermittent Cultivation, in <i>Soil Bulletin 53</i>, FAO, Rome, 1984. P. C. Goswami, Importance of Socioeconomic Factors and Role of Incentives in Controlling Shifting Cultivation in North East India, <i>Indian Forester, 111</i>:1, pp. 1-11, 1985. R. N. Loganey, <i>Jhum Cultivation and Rehabilitation of Degraded Forest</i>, Proceedings 2nd Forestry Conference, FRI and Colleges, Dehradun, India, 1980. R. Lee and D. E. Samuel, Some Thermal and Biological Effects of Forest Cutting in West Virginia, <i>Journal of Environmental Quality, 5</i>, pp. 362-375, 1976. J. D. Helvey, First Year Effects of Wild Fire on Water Yield and Stream Temperature in North Central Washington, in <i>Watershed in Transition</i>, American Water Resource Association, Urbana, Illinois, 1972. N. Ravi, <i>THE HINDU: Survey of the Environment, 1991</i>, National Press, Madras, India, 1991. P. S. Ramakrishna and O. P. Toky, Preliminary Observations on the Impact of Jhum (Shifting Cultivation) on the Forested Ecosystem, <i>Proceedings on National Seminar on Resources, Development and Environment in Himalayan Region</i>, FRI and Colleges, Dehradun, India, ND. R. Lal, Soil Erosion and Shifting Agriculture, in <i>Soil Bulletin 24</i>, FAO, Rome, 1974. E. S. Thangam, Shifting Cultivation and Rehabilitation of Degraded Areas, <i>Proceedings 2nd Forestry Conference</i>, FRI and Colleges, Dehradun, India, 1980. M. N. Jha, P. Pande, and T. C. Pathak, Studies on Changes in the Physico Chemical Properties of Tripura Soils as a Result of Jhuming, <i>Indian Forester, 105</i>:6, pp. 436-443, 1981. A. Singh and M. D. Singh, Effect of Various Stages of Shifting Cultivation on Soil Erosion from Steep Hill Slopes, <i>Indian Forester, 106</i>:2, pp. 116-121, 1980. ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), <i>News Bulletin of ICAR Research Complex</i>, Shillong, India, 1977-78. R. M. Rice, Forest Management to Minimize Landslide Risk, in <i>Guidelines for Watershed Management, FAO Conservation Guide</i>, FAO, Rome, 1977. P. N. Agrawal, Damage to Buildings during December 31, 1984 Cachar Earthquake, Northeast India, <i>Bulletin Indian Society of Earthquake Technology, 22</i>:1, pp. 53-72, 1985. P. N. Agrawal, <i>Ground Failure during December 31, 1984 Cachar Earthquake, Northeast India</i>, Proceedings 8th Symposium on Earthquake Engineering, University of Roorkee, Roorkee, India, 1986. T. Angami, <i>Jhum Cultivation and Rehabilitation of Degraded Forest</i>, Proceeding 2nd Forestry Conference, FRI and Colleges, Dehradun, India, 1980. J. S. Ganguli, <i>Economic Problems of the Jhumias of Tripura</i>, Calcutta, Bookland Pvt. Ltd., India, 1968. North Eastern Hill University, Lungdai Village Survey Report, Mizoram, India, 1986. Government of Mizoram, Socio Economic Review, Mizoram, India, 1979-80. UNESCO, <i>Methodological Guidelines for the Integrated Environmental Evaluation of Water Resources Development</i>, UNESCO, Paris, France, 1987. A. Bardossy, <i>The Mathematics of Composite Programming, Working Paper</i>, Tiszadata, Miko, u.1.1012, Budapest, Hungary, 1984. Government of Mizoram, Statistical Hand Book, Mizoram, India, 1983. Government of Mizoram, Statistical Hand Book, Mizoram, India, 1985. G. D. Miraki, <i>Sediment Yield and Deposition Profiles in Reservoirs</i>, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Roorkee, Roorkee, India, 1983.