Indigenous Groups Oppose Fortress Conservation in India

Indigenous peoples in India face displacement and restrictions on their ancestral lands due to conservation efforts. A carbon-trading and emissions-reduction program limits the use of their territory, while a tiger reserve project has led to their eviction from traditional lands.

These communities, with distinct histories and cultures, are impacted by conservation policies that prioritize environmental protection over their rights. They argue that such measures often result in the loss of their territory and decisions made without their input.

JA Shivu, a 31-year-old leader of the Jenu Kuruba tribe, represents a growing resistance to what they term 'fortress conservation.' This approach, they claim, turns inhabited areas into protected zones, disregarding the long-standing presence of Indigenous peoples.