- The Lepcha community has traditionally lived in balance with nature, but increasing reliance on firewood poses challenges for conservation.
- Improved cooking stoves reduce firewood dependency, improve indoor air quality, and align with conservation goals without disrupting traditional lifestyles.
- By adopting these cookstoves, the community helps protect Neora Valley and its biodiversity, while also improving health and sustainability.
- The views in this commentary are that of the author.
Nestled in the eastern Himalayan foothills, the Lepcha community of Kalimpong district in India is one of the indigenous groups known for their distinct culture, language and a way of life that is rooted in nature. Renowned as the ‘Rongkup Rumkup’ or the ‘Beloved People of God,’ the Lepchas maintain a deep-rooted connection with nature, viewing it as a sacred entity. However, with modern environmental and socio-economic challenges, including deforestation and dependency on forest resources, the community and their forests face an urgent need for viable alternatives to balance their cultural traditions with habitat conservation.
The Lepchas have long inhabited Kalimpong, a district in the state of West Bengal. They have lived harmoniously with nature for centuries, engaging in traditional agriculture, handicrafts, and using forest resources responsibly. Kalimpong’s rich flora and fauna, along with its favorable climate, support a diverse ecosystem that the Lepchas rely on for sustenance. However, as dependence on natural resources continues to grow, so do the pressures on forest reserves. The cultural landscape is also shifting, with younger generations sometimes finding it challenging to balance traditional practices with modern needs.
Tagathang, a small village in Kalimpong, embodies the traditional Lepcha lifestyle, where people live in harmony with nature, following age-old practices alongside modern ones. The village, perched on the fringe of Neora Valley National Park, is home to tightly-knit families who depend on firewood as their primary cooking fuel. However, with increasing awareness about conservation, the community is recognising the need for alternatives that can reduce their environmental footprint.
A traditional Lepcha house or ‘Kaa-den-mo-lee’ is usually made using stone, clay, wood and bamboo. Before the construction of a ‘Kaa-den-mo-lee’ begins, the village shaman, ‘Boonthing‘ or ‘Mun‘, performs a ritual where they ask permission from nature for starting the construction and the responsibility is then handed over to the masons and carpenters. After the ritual, the shaman placed some valuable metals and stones on the ground and the foundation stones or ‘Long-chuk’ were laid. Huge, hand carved wooden pillars or ‘Kao-damfu’ were erected above the foundation stones and the bamboo or wood house was built on them. Many experts still say that this building method made these Lepcha houses earthquake resilient. Even the waterproof roofs were made using thatched beaten bamboo or ‘Po-yung-bok’.
Improved cooking stoves as a sustainable alternative
The Improved Cooking Stove (ICS) initiative, introduced by WWF India in Tagathang has not only reduced the villagers’ dependence on firewood but has also introduced a cleaner, more efficient cooking method. ICS is particularly beneficial in Tagathang, where families often live in small traditional houses, and indoor air pollution from firewood is a health hazard. ICS offers a sustainable solution, promoting better health and reducing deforestation in and around the village.
For the communities to adopt and accept a new technology, moving away from their reliable age-old traditional chulha, several factors need consideration. The ease of maintenance, availability of materials, time taken to manufacture and the labour involved are additional factors that determine a community’s preference and acceptability for a new technology.
ICS uses the upward movement of hot air and tap into the property of hot air to move from high to low pressure conditions as its design principle. This model of ICS exposes as much of the cooking pot to the hot gasses as possible to maximise heat transfer and uses the insulating properties of mud to prevent energy loss through conduction. ICS emits less smoke and directs the smoke outside, improving the indoor air quality in the kitchen, which is an added advantage. However, the main advantage of this model of ICS is that they are made using clay, wood husk, cow dung and other locally available materials.
Neora Valley National Park, the nature reserve very close to Tagathang, is one of the most important protected forests of Eastern Himalayas as it extends into the neighbouring state of Sikkim as Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary and into the neighbour country Bhutan as Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve. Known for its incredible biodiversity, the national park is home to rare and endangered species including the red panda, clouded leopard, Asiatic black bear, Himalayan musk deer and several endemic bird species. The national park’s dense forests and variable altitudinal ecosystems makes it a critical conservation area, acting as a carbon sink and providing a habitat for unique flora and fauna.
The proximity of forest-fringe communities like those in Tagathang to the national park, however, creates a delicate balance between conservation needs and local livelihoods. Many village residents rely on the forest for firewood, water, and other ecological services. This may lead to unintentional environmental degradation, endangering local wildlife. The introduction of Improved Cooking Stoves is thus essential in reducing dependency on firewood, indirectly preserving the national park’s biodiversity.
In Tagathang and neighbouring villages, firewood is a primary source of fuel, harvested from the forest. This dependency, though minimal compared to industrial exploitation, accumulates over time and puts strain on local resources.
As awareness grows about the impact of human activities on ecosystems, forest fringe communities are increasingly being recognised as a crucial part of the solution. Integrating sustainable practices within these communities can be highly effective in reducing environmental degradation, initiatives like the Improved Cooking Stove directly contribute to this goal. By reducing the need for firewood, these cooking stoves help in habitat conservation and encourages community members to adopt sustainable alternatives.
Among the various species inhabiting Neora Valley, the red panda stands out as both an ecological icon and a vulnerable species. However, habitat loss threatens their survival.
Conservation of the red panda, among other species, requires more than just protection of the forest. A broader shift in the way humans interact with these natural resources is required. Reducing the use of firewood through initiatives like the Improved Cooking Stove supports the safeguarding of red panda habitats by lowering deforestation rates and preserving the forest canopy. By understanding how these small actions contribute to larger conservation goals, forest-fringe villages like Tagathang play an essential role in the survival of this endangered species.
Community participation in conservation
In traditional rural households, where cooking is central to daily life, the Improved Cooking Stove reduces the frequency and amount of firewood collection, ultimately preserving forest resources. By lessening the need to gather firewood, ICS lowers human interference in forest ecosystems, reducing habitat degradation and promoting biodiversity.
Moreover, ICS technology reduces indoor air pollution, benefiting women and children who are often exposed to smoke from traditional stoves. This improvement in health outcomes adds to the stove’s value, as it not only preserves the environment but also enhances the quality of life in forest fringe communities. As more households adopt ICS, the cumulative impact on forest conservation grows, benefiting both the community and the ecosystem at large.
Communities play a pivotal role in conservation efforts, particularly in areas like Neora Valley, where traditional knowledge and environmental stewardship are part of the cultural fabric. The Lepchas of Tagathang are beginning to embrace conservation practices that align with their values, understanding that protecting the environment is essential to preserving their heritage. Forest conservation initiatives, wildlife protection programs, and resource management strategies are most effective when local communities are informed and involved.
Improved Cooking Stove is a perfect example of a technology that aligns with the community’s lifestyle while also advancing conservation. By reducing their dependence on forest resources, the villagers become active contributors to environmental protection, setting a model for other forest fringe communities. In a partnership project of WWF India and SBI Foundation, more than 100 ICS have been installed in the forest fringe villages of Neora Valley National Park. Additionally, 100+ ICS have been installed in Sikkim, in the bordering villages of Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary. The pre-post assessment shows a 31% decrease in daily fuelwood usage.
To ensure the long-term success of conservation initiatives, it is essential to support and empower communities like Tagathang. Financial assistance, awareness programs, and access to eco-friendly technology are key to helping these communities adopt sustainable practices. Partnerships among non-governmental organisations, conservation bodies, and local governments are vital in scaling up the adoption of ICS and similar sustainable tools.
Investment in local communities is also an investment in environmental sustainability. When communities are provided with resources to implement sustainable practices, they can contribute significantly to conservation goals. Supporting initiatives that enhance community livelihoods while preserving natural resources can transform villages like Tagathang into models of sustainability.
In the quest for wildlife conservation, Improved Cooking Stove stands out as a simple yet transformative tool. In Tagathang, a hamlet on the edge of Neora Valley National Park, this technology is helping to reduce firewood dependency, protect wildlife habitats, and improve community health. For the Lepchas, who cherish their cultural heritage and relationship with nature, such practices resonate with their values and provide a path forward.
The author is a Project Officer at WWF India, working with forest fringe communities, primarily in the Sikkim and Darjeeling Hills of the Kangchendzonga Conservation Landscape.
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Banner image: an Improved Cooking Stove installed in a Lepcha household. Such stoves offer a sustainable solution for kitchens, promoting better health and reducing deforestation in and around the village. Image by Abishek Pradhan.
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