Jonestar L Nonglait
Abstract
There are already a system of governance and customary law which has withstand centuries which pave the way for conserving different types of forests which are crucial for the healthy survival of all life form including human. Recently we have witnessed a fast pace of deterioration of these customs, this study sheds light on how community forest (Law Adong) of urksewwahpathaw protected forest have been degraded which is evident from the forest cover changes and this has impacted the services it provides ecologically and also to the people around this forest. Most of this change comes from human intervention in the name of development and pressure of population on land. By changing the land use within this protected forest, it has brought in an ecological imbalance where the health of the forest is being affected as well as the water sources. However, in order to give way for development address population growth there should be a proper system to understand the cost benefit ratio before changing the land use within the forest, an in this case we need to revive back the system of governance and customary law to limit further damage to this forest ecosystem.