Climate justice, forests, and Indigenous Peoples: toward an alternative to REDD + for the Amazon Aug. 19, 2024 Tropical primary forests like the Amazon are critical to the regulation and functioning of Earth’s climate; they are a significant source of carbon emissions when destroyed and are also important sinks, containing more than 100 billion metric tons of carbon. Read more Image
The African Commission sets a significant precedent for indigenous peoples' land rights in the context of conservation Aug. 5, 2024 The Commission’s decision on Kahuzi-Biega National Park is an important victory for the Batwa people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as a step towards more inclusive conservation practices in the region. Read more Image
India's Tiger Reserves: Tribals Get Out, Tourists Welcome July 31, 2024 At least, 5,50,000 Scheduled Tribes and other forest dwellers have been identified for involuntary relocation by the Project Tiger to create inviolate areas for the purposes of tiger conservation. Read more Image
Project Tiger to displace 5.5 lakh tribals, says rights group report July 31, 2024 The displacement per tiger reserve increased exponentially after 2021, from 5,000 per protected area to 48,333, the report released on the International Tiger Day said. Times of India Image
UNESCO Slammed for Its 'Silence' on Human Rights Violations in World Heritage Sites July 31, 2024 Several speakers at the World Heritage Committee being held in New Delhi criticised UNESCO for its silence on the violations of the rights of indigenous peoples in certified World Heritage sites. They said that the indigenous peoples have been also been facing forced evictions from conservation areas. Read more Image
Suhas Chakma Advocate for Indigenous Rights at EMRIP July 27, 2024 Suhas Chakma made impactful interventions at the 17th Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples highlighting the adverse effects of conservation measures on Indigenous populations. Read more Image
Kaziranga is becoming a laboratory for militarised forest conservation in India: Pranab Doley April 16, 2024 Political activist Pranab Doley, a member of the indigenous community of Bokakhat displaced during the expansion of Kaziranga National Park, wrote an open letter a day before the PM’s visit. The letter highlighted the evictions taking place in Kaziranga, the human rights violations in Kaziranga, the excessive power given to the forest authorities, and the illegal constructions by politicians and corporates in Kaziranga. Read more Image
Will global forest expansion hit tribals? | Explained March 30, 2024 What are the concerns about the Global Biodiversity Framework which aims to increase areas under forest cover, inland water, coastal and marine areas to at least 30% of the world’s terrestrial area? What is the situation in India? The Hindu Image
Anti-Racism Live 2024 with Robert A. Williams, Jr. March 26, 2024 In a powerful demonstration of solidarity and advocacy on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21), Professor Robert A. Williams, Jr.; Faculty Co-Chair, Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program, featured prominently in the Anti-Racism Live 2024 event organized by Peace One Day. Peace One Day Image
Bid to double global protected areas may affect India’s tribes March 25, 2024 The Scheduled Tribes in India will bear the brunt of this expansion, as 89 of the 106 notified national parks in the country were established in areas that they lived. This means that 84% of protected areas in India overlap with tribal areas, New Delhi-based rights activist Suhas Chakma said at the symposium on ‘Conservation, Racism, and Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights’. The Hindu Image