The Tragedy of Conservation

Context: Since the time when Ministry of Environment and Forests began identifying the potential heritage sites, there has been unrest among the indigenous people of western ghats.

 Wrong approach of protecting biodiversity: by excluding indigenous community from biodiversity management in the Western Ghats.

• Declaration of an area as ecologically sensitive area: which puts restriction on movement of people.
• Announcement of World Heritage Site (WHS): In 2012, 39 areas covering national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and reserved forests in the Western Ghats were declared a World Heritage Site by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• Poor implementation of the Forest Rights Act of 2006: in the name of protecting biodiversity.
  • The Western Ghats are home to tribes like Gowlis, Kunbis, Halakki Vakkala, Kare Vakkala, Kunbi, and Kulvadi Marathi (under ‘other forest dwellers category’), are eligible for land rights.
  • The indigenous people of the Western Ghats, including the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, constitute 44.2% of the tribal population of 6.95% of Karnataka.
  • Unfortunately, The State had recognized only 5.7% of the total claims made (as per Tribal Ministry data).
• The Global Environment Outlook Report 5: highlights decreased biodiversity across the globe even as ‘protected areas’ have been expanding.
  • More integrated and spiritual way will be the involvement of indigenous people.

 Way Forward:

• Implement the provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 in India and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People in 2007 by the United Nations, in letter and spirit.
  • Make efforts to build trust between its agencies in the area and the people who depend on these forests by treating them as equal citizens like everyone else in the country.
• Legal empowerment of indigenous communities: to ensure better protection and promotion of biodiversity as recognized by internationally.