Documentation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Changthang

One of the critical interfaces of pastoral nomadic interaction with the landscape is seen in the traditional ecological knowledge systems associated with the various plant species  of the grasslands on which livestock graze.  Indigenous plants are also used in traditional medicine of the amchi system. A documentation of this TKS was undertaken through interviews with knowledge bearers in the community, field work and a survey of secondary literature. An inventory of indigenous plants used for grazing, medicinal purposes and for the extraction of natural dyes was created. A workshop with nomadic women weavers was organised to experiment with extraction of natural pigments that can be used in the dyeing of local woollen yarn.  The project was funded by the Shrikant Joshi Endowment Fund managed by Keystone Foundation. A total of 48 fodder and medicinal plant species were identified in the Korzok-Tegazung nomadic pastoral landscape at nearly 4500m asl, belonging to 21 families. Species belonging to Asteraceae, Boraginaceae and Fabaceae, Polygonaceae families predominate.