Ethno-Meteorology, Temporal Mapping, And Ecological Bio-Indicators: An Anthropological Epistemology of Indigenous Forecasting Systems Among the Halba Tribe of Kondagaon, Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract

In hyper-localised, ecosystem dependent indigenous societies, Traditional Ecological Knowledge functions as a critical framework for environmental risk mitigation and socio-ecological resilience. This study conducts an ethno-meteorological and Anthropological inquiry into the vernacular forecasting matrices and ecological bioindicators developed by the sedentary agro tribal Halba community within the Bastar Craton of Kondagaon, Chhattisgarh. Integrating a mixed method anthropological architecture, data were gathered across a biocultural matrix of four structural multi hamlet (para) catchments - Koregaon, Kopra, Khajrawand, and Bahigaon, utilising purposive sampling (N=838) of household structures alongside participant observation and semi structured chronometric narratives over an intensive field tenure. Cognitive taxonomic mapping reveals that the Halba navigate localised weather vulnerabilities through an empirical trisystemic matrix: (i) Ethno-Chronometry via gnomonic shadow vector scaling and sidereal tracking; (ii) Anemological Mechanics deciphering microclimate fluid dynamics; and (iii) Zoo-meteorological Bio-Indications capturing hypersensitive faunal behavioural perturbations (e.g., Camponotus spp. and Vanellus indicus) triggered by barometric and electrostatic atmospheric fluctuations. The findings demonstrate that these vernacular early warning structures provide high resolution predictive accuracy that operates independently of capital-intensive modern forecasting infrastructure. However, anthropogenically forced climate volatility and forest fragmentation increasingly threaten to decouple these established ecological linkages. This paper provides an empirical blueprint for integrating indigenous bio indicators into state level localised disaster risk reduction paradigms and hybrid climate adaptation policies.