ENVIRONMENTAL-IMPACT OF SHIFTING CULTIVATION AND ITS MANAGEMENT - A CASE-STUDY OF MIZORAM, INDIA

Global concern about the environment at the Stockholm Conference in 19 72 led several countries to assess the environmental impacts of their development activities. Unlike the case with developed countries, envi ronmental problems in developing countries like India mostly arise due to the lack of balanced development. The ills of the continuing pract ice of shifting cultivation (jhum) in the northeastern region of India (Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal, Manipur, Tripura), o ther regions of the country (Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pra desh, and Karnataka), and the world (sections of Africa, Indonesia, Bu rma, and China) are now being realized. This study examines the advers e effect of shifting cultivation from a holistic view point. Quantific ation of the effects of management options on overall 'system status' is also attempted by means of the technique of composite programming. This allows alternative management strategies to be compared in light of their efficiency and their potential to arrest environmental degrad ation.