Watershed Management

Watershed represents a segment of the landscape with a common hydrological boundary within which the biotic community is inextricably linked. It is a convenient unit of landscape to study and evaluate the physical parameters vis-à-vis resource utilization and development. Sustainable development through watershed management has become a thrust area in both developed and developing nations. The goal of watershed management is to plan and work towards an environmentally and economically healthy watershed for the benefit of the biotic community. Watershed management essentially relates to soil and water conservation in the watershed, which means proper use of land and the protection of land against all form of deterioration. The range of issues relevant to watershed management includes environmental issues: Crop and livestock production, social and cultural concern and infrastructure planning. For optimum utilization of natural resources in an area, the integrated watershed development approach is considered to be the most ideal as it helps in maintaining the ecological balance.

In recent years there has been a growing and intense global interest in the environmental health of the earth. Exploitations of earth’s resources through the human civilization, particularity after the industrial era, have put adverse impact on the lithosphere, hydrosphere and the biosphere. It is often felt that there is a need for continuous evaluation and appraisal of the environment in terms of the physical parameters of the earth system vis-à-vis the ecosystem.

Watershed development has been conceived basically as a strategy for protecting the livelihood of the people inhabiting the fragile ecosystem experiencing soil erosion and moisture stress. The aim of watershed management has been to ensure the availability of drinking water, fuel wood and fodder and raise the income and employment for farmers and landless labourers through improvements in agricultural production and productivity.

(Van Jennifer Joan Wallang, Research Scholar, Centre for Environmental Studies, N.E.H.U., Shillong – 793014, Wallangj@yahoo.co.in)

Lists of  latest publication on North East India

1. Barua, Indira, at al., ed., Ethnic Groups, Cultural Continuities and Social Change in North East India, New Delhi : Mittal Publications, 2002.

2. Daniel, S.C., (Dr.), Philosophy of History : Some Reflections on North-East India, New Delhi: Regency Publications, 2000.

3. Das, Gurudas., Border Trade : North-East India and Neighbouring Countries, New Delhi : Akansha Publishing House, 2000.

4. Devi, L. Bino., Lois of Manipur, New Delhi : Mittal Publications, 2002.

5. Fernandes, Walter., ed., Climate Change and Tribal Sustainable Living : Responses from the Northeast, Guwahati : North East Social Research Centre & Indian network of Ethics and Climate Change, 2001.

6. Ghosh, Subir, Frontier Travails : Northeast : The Politics of a Mess, New Delhi : Macmillan, 2001.

7. Goswami, Atul., Traditional Self-Governing Institutions Among the Hill Tribes of North-East India, New Delhi : Akansha Publishing House, 2002.

8. Misra, Udayon., Periphery Strikes Back : Challenges to the Nation-State in Assam and Nagaland, Shimla : Indian Institute of Advanced Study, 2000.

9. Nag, Sajal., Contesting Marginality, New Delhi : Manohar, 2002.

10. Narahari, N.S., (Lt Gen), Security Threats to North-East India, New Delhi : Manas Publications, 2002.

11. Nuh, V.K., Struggle for Identity in North-east India, Guwahati : Spectrum Publications, 2001.

12. Subba,T.B., ed., Anthropology of North-East India, New Delhi : Orient Longman, 2003.     

13.  Thomas, C.Joshua., Dimensions of Displaced People in North-East India, New Delhi : Regency Publications, 2002.

FROM THE STATE OF  ARUNACHAL PRADESH IN NORTH EAST INDIA

1. Nayak, P.K., Higher Education in Arunachal Pradesh, New Delhi : Akansha Publishing          House, 2002.

2. Roy,N.C., Land Reforms in Arunachal Pradesh, New Delhi : Classical Publishing Company, 2001.

FROM THE STATE OF ASSAM IN NORTH EAST INDIA

1. Choudhury, Anwaruddin., Kaziranga : Wild Life in Assam, New Delhi : Rupa & Co., 2004

FROM THE STATE OF MANIPUR IN NORTH EAST INDIA

1. Devi, L. Bino., Lois of Manipur, New Delhi : Mittal Publications, 2002

MEGHALAYA

1. Bareh Ngapkynta, Bareh., Economy of Meghalaya, Guwahati : Spectrum Publication, 2001

2. Binoo K. John ., Under a Cloud : Life in Cherrapunjee, the Wettest Place on Earth, New Delhi : Penguin, 2004

3. Mawrie, Barnes, SDB., Khasis and their Natural Environment, Shillong : Vendrame Institute Publications, 2001

4. Nongkynrih, A.K., Khasi Society of Meghalaya, New Delhi : Indus Publishing House, 2002

5. Sangma,Mihir.N., Some Important Festivals and Ceremonies of the Garos, Meghalaya : Narayan Group Ltd., 2001 

6. Sarma, Siddheswar., Meghalaya : The Land and Forest,Guwahati : Geophil Publishing House,2003          

MIZORAM

1. Gassah, L.S., Research Priorities in North-East India : With Special Reference to Mizoram, New Delhi : Regency Publications, 2001

NAGALAND

1. Arya, Aditya., Land of the Nagas, Ahmedabad : Mapin Publication, 2004

2. Misra, Udayon., Periphery Strikes Back : Challenges to the Nation-State in Assam and     Nagaland, Shimla : Indian institute of Advanced Study, 2000

3. Nuh,V.K., My Native Country, Guwahati : Spectrum Publications : 2002

4. Nungshitula., Naga Images of the Human Being, Assam : Tribal Study Centre, 2001

5. Shimray,A.S.W.,History of the Tangkhul Nagas, New Delhi : Akansha Publishing House, 2001

6. Vashum,R., Naga's Rights to Self Determination, New Delhi : Mittal Publication, 2000