Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Abstract

As This paper analyzes the role of tribal women of Jharkhand through a case study of village Buchaopa of Ranchi District on the usage of traditional forest knowledge to supplement household needs and taking care of family. Tribal women are particularly the most severely vulnerable to the changes posed by climate as they are the prime water and forest produce collector. In most of the forest ecosystem, all the water sources have gone down. Agricultural production is unable to meet their household needs. Crop loss has increased due to the less rain fall, extreme hot and storm. In this situation, women are virtually loaded with lots of responsibilities to manage and take care of family. Most of the crisis situation arises during the month of March to October. Water shortage, delay in paddy cultivation, crop damage and health problem aggravate their existing problem of financial crisis and food shortage. Tribal women at their own capacity level try to fulfill household needs by collecting and selling NTFPs like, mahuwa flower, mahuwa seed, chaar seed, tamarind, saal leaf, etc from forest and meet household needs like rice, medicine, school fees, etc. It is also seen that extra money is spent of water pumping and labour for paddy field during the drought period. Women try to keep some cash in hand before the cultivation of paddy by selling forest produce. Major NTFPs which are collected and sold by women just before the cultivation of paddy are tamarind and mahuwa flower. During the stress period (March-October), generally male member moves out of the village to find labour job. This movement virtually increases the physical and mental pressure on women. This paper further tries to analyze the despite physical and mental pressure posed by climate change, how tribal women are nurturing and binding family

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