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| Living root bridges, Meghalaya, NE India.indiatvnews.com |
Living aerial or suspension root bridges are artificially created bridges by the tribes (Khasi) through weaving and manipulating the roots of the Indian rubber tree ''Ficus elastica''fig tree) and they have been known in NE India in the state of Meghalaya. for centuries - roughly 500 years serving as connectors with near-by isolated places. These bridges act as an amazing role model for socio-ecological resilience and sustainability.
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| .Meghalaya, NE India. Living root bridges.downtoearth.org.in |
The following are the essential facts:
01. The native tribes of Meghalaya never fail to respect Nature and live in harmony with it and it has been so for centuries.
02. Often referred to ''Living root bridges.'' they are known to occur widely in the West and East Jaintia Hills districts and are found in and around many villages like Khonglah, Padu, Kudeng, Nongbareh, etc.
03. The tribes of Khasi (a tribe living in the eastern parts of Meghalaya) are expert builders of these bridges. They through generations have gained knowledge to grow root bridges successfully and artificially in this sensitive and rough forested rain-sodden terrain.
04. Reason for their construction is Meghalaya state is the wettest place on earth with dense forests and turbulent water ways and valleys. The artificially built bridges stay connected the tribes with other communities in isolated areas across the water ways. during the severe monsoon seasons (Both NW & SE monsoons bring in lots of rain). Centuries ago it was an ingenious way to stay connected with other isolated areas.
05 They grow up to a length over 50 meters and roughly 1.5 meters wide. Life span: 150 years and more.
06.The Khasi tribes ingeniously use the Indian rubber tree ''Ficus elastica'' to build aerial bridges across the streams. Long tradition has it they know how to guide the pliable tree roots to grow laterally over a stream bed on both sides resulting in a living bridge of roots in about 15 years. The roots in strands are guided by the halved trunks of bamboo. They mature with age growing in strength and thickness over a period of time with soil getting compacted due to foot print. Once they are good enough to withstand 30 to 35 people, the halved trunks are not required and removed.
07. India rubber trees are most suitable for the aerial root bridge construction because they have essential properties most suitable for this purpose - their growth in in rough, rocky soils, elasticity and ability of roots to combine easily
08. Their life span is dependent on periodic care and pruning; the latter is needed yearly to maintain the strength of the bridge.
09. The positive point is as they become more resilient with age they survive long years and gain capacity to withstand flash flooding and storm surges that are frequent recurrences during the rainy season .
10. They are symbolic of symbiotic relationship with humans and environment.
11. They are useful in an environmentally sensitive hilly forested region by way of preventing soil erosion, land slides and promoting soil stability. besides, the root bridges play a vital role in this eco system by absorbing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
12. Centuries ago paved roads were impossible in densely forested terrain with powerful streams, the diligent and innovative indigenous tribes of Khasi found a solution in nature.
!3. These root bridges are facing threats as the present generation of people has no patience. Efforts are being made by the state government to safeguard the age old tradition
14. The crux of the problem is making aerial root bridges is time consuming. Right from bamboo bridges to guiding rubber tree roots horizontally and get them entwined with halved bamboo men need skill and patience.
15. It takes more than 30 years to develop a functional bridge with period upkeep and pruning.
https://baliyans.com/daily-current-affairs/news/living-root-bridges-of-meghalaya
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/living-root-bridges-clean-village-mwalynnong-india
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/living-root-bridges-clean-village-mwalynnong-india
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