Research across 42 villages in Layshi Township, Myanmar's Naga Self-Administered Zone, found that jhum land often classified by the state as vacant or degraded was regarded locally as the most multifunctional land-use type, supporting food, medicines, construction materials, and cultural practice. Forests, home gardens, and paddy terraces complemented jhum as an interdependent landscape mosaic. The study reveals a gap between technocratic land categories and Indigenous knowledge but does not directly measure ecological performance.
Key findings
- Jhum was rated as the most multifunctional land-use type and supplied the broadest range of livelihood products.
- Forests and home gardens complemented jhum for dietary diversity and income, supporting a landscape-mosaic interpretation.
- Labels such as vacant or degraded risk obscuring locally reported food, medicinal, material, and cultural values.
Why this matters globally
The research supports land and conservation policy that recognizes Indigenous tenure and knowledge rather than judging sustainability through simplified land categories. Multifunctional landscapes may connect food security, biodiversity, and land justice, but policy should also draw on longitudinal land-use and ecological measurements and more inclusive participation.
Thai researcher contribution
Chiang Mai University researchers Athong Makury and Arkar Soe Htet contributed to the international team working with Naga communities in Myanmar. The Thai institutional contribution links border-region expertise with Indigenous land rights and sustainability research while keeping community knowledge central.
Limitations to consider
The authors state that findings reflect community-reported knowledge, use, and perceived importance rather than direct ecological measurement. Focus groups were often male-dominated, with lower participation by women, youth, and marginalized groups. Standardized English land-use categories enabled comparison but may not capture classifications used by different Naga sub-groups.