Place Attachment and Traditional Ecological Knowledge Amongst the Rongmei Naga Indigenous Community in Manipur

Many studies indicate the loss of traditional ecological knowledge in recent times and investigate the various drivers and processes that lead to its loss. This study employs the concept of place attachment as a mechanism that fosters a resilience of traditional ecological knowledge in the face of changing socio-economic conditions and allows the Rongmei Naga indigenous community in Manipur to transmit and apply traditional ecological knowledge in their resource management practices. A survey-based qualitative study is conducted on six villages and analyses the process of constructing place attachment along two dimensions of place identity and place dependence by the Rongmei community in Manipur. The findings indicate that a strong sense of place attachment feeds into the processes of generation, regeneration and transmission of traditional ecological knowledge over time.