ABSTRACT
The system of shifting cultivation as traditionally practised has, by default, created an enabling environment conducive to the implementation of small-scale Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects based on afforestation and reforestation. The government-sponsored Joint Forest Management programme for afforestation and reforestation activities is now being integrated into the Jhum. Shifting cultivation is a predominant practice in northeast India, so forest and agricultural lands cannot be categorically differentiated. Forests consist of both primary forest and secondary Jhum re-growth in various stages, depending on the Jhum cycle, and current agricultural land will develop into forests again in subsequent years when cultivation ends. The Jhumming communities in northeast India are both aware of, and affected by, climate change. Climate change has emerged as one of the most serious environmental and socioeconomic concerns of our times. However, the area of land in the northeast region that is under shifting cultivation and eligible for CDM projects has been estimated at 0.6 million ha.
