Bio-diversity

The aboriginal indigenous Chepangs are one of the most marginalized and socio economically deprived community. Only 2% of Chepang population has their own land and rest depends on shifting cultivation- which is locally known as the Khoriya. The yields from such marginal Khoriya lands are enough for only one to three months. For the rest of the months, they depend on labour and collection of wild food. But increased population and over harvesting of wild food resources have resulted in depletion of agro-biodiversity. On the other hand, they have profound indigenous knowledge on the wild food such as tuberous crops including the wild varieties of yam. The main objective of the project is to enhance the livelihood of Chepang community through agro-biodiversity conservation and land rehabilitation. The project also targets to enhance the indigenous knowledge and establish the seed banks of Chepang food especially the tuberous crop.

Nepal