About six kilometres from Bandarban Sadar, along the winding road to Nilachal, the green hills are dotted with forests and scattered jhum fields. Unlike any other crop fields, birds are welcome here and there are no scarecrows. The hillsides come alive with chirping birds and the gentle rustle of swaying paddy.
Among these, a jhum field looks much like any other where rows of rice plants stretch across the slope. But this is different.
Here, the rice grows not for people. It is for birds.
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The idea began with Dr Pu Chaw Nu Marma, a former divisional director and civil surgeon with a deep passion for nature and concern for biodiversity conservation. Growing up, he remembers seeing countless birds, lush green forests and a natural environment that seemed beyond imagination.
But as the environment changed and bird populations declined, he began thinking about what he could do, even on a small scale, to help birds find food again.
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A nature lover, the civil surgeon dedicated 60 decimals of his own land to jhum cultivation last year, growing rice and other cereals just to feed birds and other wildlife rather than humans.
Inspired by his initiative, a group of young people from Green Milieu came together to carry out the idea this season.
Green Milieu is a youth-led organisation working on environmental and biodiversity conservation, indigenous rights, climate justice and cultural preservation.
Working together, they have cultivated paddy and other cereals like sesame, pumpkin, native corn, bamboo, yardlong beans, cucumber, ridge gourd, okra, bottle gourd and snake gourd for birds and wildlife that share the landscape with humans.
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“We believe that the world is for everyone, and we have to take care of all living beings,” says Puchainu Marma, head of communication at Green Milieu.
Indigenous people have traditionally lived closely with nature. In the past, people cultivated only what they needed and left the rest for nature, explained Ukhingnue Chak, operations and strategy lead at Green Milieu. “But now, people want to take everything for themselves without thinking.”
Before beginning jhum cultivation, indigenous communities typically observe rituals to please Abongma, the jhum goddess, and pray for a good harvest.
The rituals and traditions vary from one village to another. Flowers, fruits and biscuits are offered, and in some places, traditional ceremonies are held to honour the jhum deity.
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As part of their effort to keep this tradition alive, members of Green Milieu also performed a ritual before the rice in their jhum field. They made a bamboo platform and offered fruits and flowers, seeking blessings.
As biodiversity declines with deforestation, birds are losing both their habitats and natural food sources. At the same time, the growing shift towards horticulture has led to more fruit gardens, where pesticides are often used and some orchards are covered with nets, making it harder for birds to access food.
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“That is why we thought we should create something specifically for birds. After all, it feels good just to hear the birds singing,” said Puchainu Marma.
“We, as young people, should take more initiatives to protect our wildlife and create awareness about biodiversity conservation,” said Ushing May Marma, executive director of Green Milieu.
“Protecting our hills, forests, birds, rivers and jhum means protecting our own existence and culture. Big changes can begin with small actions, local indigenous knowledge and collective efforts,” she said.
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While youth can play an important role in protecting wildlife, lasting change requires support from the wider community.
“It should not be the responsibility of young people alone,” says Chaw Prue Marma, logistics and organising secretary of Green Milieu. He says if the local government, resource persons in Bandarban and elderly community members come together and support such initiatives, they could make a much bigger impact.
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By mid-October, they hope the jhum will be alive with birds of different species, turning the harvest into a feast for the very wildlife they set out to support.
