Sustainable Development of Idamalakudy: A Tribal Panchayat

Abstract

The Muthuvan tribe in Idamalakudy, Kerala remains one of the most isolated indigenous tribes of the Western Ghats, as they dwell in the deep jungle. Forest and forest resources play a significant role in the daily life of Muthuvans providing them with food, medicine, fodder, fuel, wood and a wide range of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). The indigenous ecological knowledge of Muthuvans is generally based on sustainability, productivity and optimum balanced utilisation of available land and other natural resources. Traditional ecological knowledge rooted in indigenous cultures plays an essential role in contributing to local biodiversity conservation, and they often have been attributed to a practical knowledge of utilising bioresource sustainably. The tribal population in this area has learnt to maintain the ecological balance in a sustainable manner and is mostly self-sufficient for their daily requirements. The chapter explores the traditional ecological knowledge of Muthuvans and the tribal social structure.