Dibang Valley is one of the most biodiverse regions, not only in India but around the world. It is inhibited by the Mishmi people. Here is their story of the conservation of the valley’s rare wildlife.
I listen to the mabra, gazing at the long houses my siblings live in. The funeral rites aren’t going to end anytime soon. The mabra itself, that is, the funeral chant will last at least ten hours. And then the entire village will undergo taboo for five days, during which they will not engage in farming, fishing, weaving, etc. That’s how it’s always been. What they’ll always follow, these Idu Mishmis. Things are changing these days, even the soil I step on seems different. But these funeral rites aren’t going to be changed anytime soon, trust me on that.
I gaze upon at the canopy above me, at the dappled sunlight streaking in through the leaves. The day’s about to end. My gaze travels down then, to the river I can only see a strip of when it curves in its path. I can’t quite recall the name of the river. As long I can bathe and swim in that diver with that refreshingly cool water lapping over me, all is well. Oh, and I need food of course. I’ll have to be on my watch tonight. Or even tomorrow would be alright, I guess. But my stomach growls for flesh, and the sooner the better.
Night falls. It’s a good thing my eyesight is better than a human’s. I can see quite clearly, from the gnarled roots of the trees to the black stripes on my orange skin. The forest is filled with a thousand sounds – sounds I cannot imagine my life without.
Abnormal Conditions
I start moving towards the river, watching the sun set behind the mountains. The river is in a rather calm mood today. I murmur a hello to Beka, the spirit who dwells in the rivers. Schools of fish wade in the water. Under normal circumstances, they would’ve shied away from me. But I was well hidden by the foliage, and they we’re closer to the other side of the bank. And of course, these days could hardly be called normal.
The humans had invented new terms for it, or so I’ve heard. Global warming and climate crisis, if I’m not wrong. I am somewhat gratified to know that a few specimens of those species had a little more than an ounce of sense and were demanding climate justice. But I don’t think it will help. Their efforts are far too few, and not enough to prevent the destruction of my home.
Etalin Hydropower Project threatens Dibang Valley’s Wildlife
Oh, didn’t you know? The forest which I call my home are going to be razed. R-A-Z-E-D. For what, you ask? Some random hydroelectric project- Etalin Dam, I think it’s called. I look at the trees which have stood here for a long, long time, and think of Asha, the spirit of large trees. When the trees are gone, there will be no more climbing the moss-blanketed branches. No more purring contentedly as I revel in the feel of rain-drenched moss. No more friendly hellos to Asha and Epa-Saya. No more… I guess no more us. No more animals. No more wren music filling the air, no more cicadas, crickets. No more deer. And then, finally, no more of the species who have brought about the sixth mass extinction.
Apparently, the Etalin Dam will cut an estimated 2.7 lakh trees. Studies have shown that large reservoirs increase the frequency of earthquakes in areas showing high seismic activity, like this one. I don’t really understand the point of going ahead with this project. What if it’s destroyed during an earthquake?
The Land of Idu Mishmis
It will also divert 1,150.08 hectares of land and affect 285 families of the Idu Mishmis. For them, the land is their only source for livelihood, and if they lose that, well…
The forest grows darker, and I think of all the years I’ve spent here, all the minutes that ticked away too soon. It seems like the Creator brought me to this world just to see destruction raining down upon my ancestors’ homeland. Thinking of families, maybe it’s time to meet my other cousin, the snow tiger, before it becomes too late.
I’d seen her last when I was only a cub- she lived in the upper reaches of the mountains, and wasn’t too friendly. Nor was I, at that time. But times change, as they say. I remember the first time we’d met- I was a little over a year old, and I found her fascinating. So I’d played with her tail, the way I used to do with my mother, but she wasn’t too pleased about it and chased me all around the cave. She was quite ferocious, and I remember being scared. That is, until my mother saved my sorry hide. But that’s a story for another time. (I hope that she won’t chase me around the forest today. If I find her, that is.) While I go in search for my long-lost relative, could you do me a favour?
Let India Breathe
An organization called Let India Breathe has devised a simple way to mail Environment Ministry of India demanding that the Etalin Project be scrapped. It’s very easy to partake in. All you have to do is click here. This will take you to their website, where you will have to fill in your name and Email DI- er, sorry, I think it’s called an email ID. My apologies. And then you click send email – this will take you to the pre-drafted email, and all you have to do is click send! If enough people do this, we may actually stand a chance of saving Dibang Valley. The question is, will you? I hope you do. Then, maybe, I will have a little more time to spend with my long-lost cousin. And you humans a little more time in this world. There’s a climate crisis which threatens your existence, remember?
The Indian Government plans to set up the Etalin Hydropower Project over the Dri and Tangon Rivers. The project site is home to several species of wildlife, some of which are only found in the Dibang Valley. The Dibang Multipurpose Dam will affect 2000 Idu Mishmi individuals, who are indigenous to the area. They consider the land to be their own and play a vital role in the conservation of wildlife in the area.
Higher tiger populations in Community Reserves
The Dibang Valley, falling in an active seismic zone, has experienced 34 earthquakes in the last century. Studies have shown that building large reservoirs in seismically active zones increase the frequency of earthquakes in the same area.The Idu Mishmis play a key part in tiger conservation. They consider the tigers as their elder brothers. Idu children grow up on the story of ancestral brothers born to the same mother – the first Idu and the tiger. Studies show that tiger population in the community forests is 4.5 times higher than the sanctuary. Tigers thrive in the Dibang Valley because of the cultural value attached to them.
Written by Nitha Fatima
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