Abstract
Anthropogenic activities are a matter of serious concern in the Indian Himalayan region due to adverse impacts on wildlife and habitats. This study examines resource use patterns by local people in relation to the habitat of Malayan Sun Bear in and around Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mizoram. Standard questionnaire surveys and vegetation sampling methods were used for data collection and analysis. It was found that 221.3 km2 (33.3%) of the forested areas have high human interference in the form of logging, indiscriminate tree falling and fuel wood collection, while 26% was moderately affected and 18% of the reserve had no impact. Among vegetation resources, fuel wood was used in the highest quantity (28%) followed by bamboo and edible plants (21%) and (11%), respectively. Ethno-zoological usage comprises of parts of animals like snake, bear, monitor lizard, and porcupine. Sun bears were considered pests that feed on maize, cucumber, sweet potato and pumpkins grown in ‘jhum’ crop fields. Anthropogenic pressures from farm-bush hunting, monoculture, and unplanned roads have contributed to severe biodiversity loss, and must be constrained for the conservation of sun bear and their habitat in the region. The Land Use/ Land Cover on human built-up, jhum land (current and abandoned jhum/shifting cultivation), forests (dense and open), bamboo forest, plantation etc. were used to develop maps for each village. The land use pattern for the eight villages studied. Information obtained from MIRSAC and its mapping in Arcview shows that highest number of agricultural land was in villages of West Phaileng (319sq.ha) and Damparengpui (283.8sq.ha). Closed or dense forest was in highest proportion in Phuldungsei and least in Tuipuibari (120sq.ha). Grazing activities was relatively low or absent in most part of DTR. Abandoned jhum fields were in largest number in Damparengpui (939.60sq.ha) followed by Silsuri (881.17sq.ha) and Serhmun (880.99sq.ha).
Highlights
Forest and wildlife are integral components of a dynamic ecosystem
The land use pattern for all the villages is represented in Image 2
Information obtained from MIRSAC and its mapping shows that highest number of agricultural land is in villages of West Phaileng (319 ha2) and Damparengpui (283.8 ha2)
Summary
Forest and wildlife are integral components of a dynamic ecosystem. The recent exponential growth in human populations and encroachment towards protected areas (PAs) have led wildlife populations and their habitats to declined so drastically this has been referred to as an “ongoing sixth mass extinction” by Barrueto et al (2014) and Ceballos et al (2017). Changes in land use patterns and increases in agricultural areas have greatly affected the habitat, food selection pattern and conservation of sun bear in the northeastern states of India, including Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram (Chauhan & Lalthunpuia 2008; Sethy & Chauhan 2013). Anthropogenic activities often harm wild animals directly through agriculture, human settlement, transportation, and indirectly by disturbing the ecological balance, cross-species transmission of pathogens, pollution, and climate change (MacRae 2011; Becker et al 2015). Many of these activities have received little attention, resulting in an alteration of habitat use, foraging behavior of animals and severe human-wildlife negative interactions (Sih et al 2011; Becker et al 2018). We aimed to collect information on bear-human interaction and the dependency of locals on forest resources
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
