At a time when climate change has made environmental protection an existential priority, preserving and regenerating natural forests must remain at the centre of any strategy for ecological stability and biodiversity conservation. However, a growing body of experience from India and around the world confirms what tribal and rural communities have long known: forests cannot be protected from the top down. True and lasting conservation can only be achieved when the communities living near forests are actively involved in managing and protecting them.
Forests have always served as the lifeblood of tribal communities, sustaining their culture, economy, and daily lives. Their knowledge of forest ecosystems, honed over generations, is unmatched in its depth and nuance. Yet this symbiotic relationship was severely damaged during the colonial era, when forests were reduced to timber reserves and communities were denied access to the very lands they had safeguarded for centuries. Even after independence, successive policies have often perpetuated this disconnect, either ignoring tribal rights or treating them as an afterthought.
Worse, well-intentioned conservation efforts have frequently turned hostile to the very people who could be their strongest allies. Tribal families have been evicted or denied forest rights under the banner of wildlife preservation. The flawed assumption that communities pose a threat to forests has not only deepened rural poverty and displacement but has also undermined conservation itself. Legendary ornithologist Salim Ali had long cautioned against such exclusionary policies, calling instead for a more balanced approach that respects the needs of forest dwellers.
The example of Bharatpur bird sanctuary in Rajasthan stands as a grim reminder of this imbalance. A blanket ban on buffalo grazing led to protests and police firing, killing seven villagers. Ironically, later research by the Bombay Natural History Society showed that buffalo grazing was crucial in maintaining the wetland's ecology. In similar cases, such as the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, reintroducing traditional grazing practices improved ecological diversity.
If forest protection and regeneration are to be sustainable, they must rest on partnerships with local communities. This includes tribal, rural, nomadic, and semi-nomadic groups. Forest fires, which have grown more frequent with climate change, can be contained much more effectively when communities are trained, equipped, and motivated to intervene. Water conservation measures, soil protection, and checking illegal logging or wildlife poaching also see better outcomes with local involvement.
Equally important is the regeneration of degraded forests. Unlike monoculture plantations that mimic industrial agriculture, true forest restoration needs to follow ecological principles that reflect native biodiversity. A promising approach is to assign plots of degraded land to the poorest villagers, who fence and rest the land, supported by employment schemes like MGNREGA. Over time, as the land regenerates, they not only earn wages but also secure rights to sustainably harvest non-timber forest produce. Once the ecosystem regains strength, even regulated grazing can be reintroduced.
Such community-centric models do more than restore forests. They create livelihoods, reduce rural distress, and align poverty alleviation with ecological stewardship. Local employment in forest protection and biodiversity monitoring can be significantly scaled up. Instead of alienating people from forests, their wellbeing can be interwoven with ecological renewal.
Ultimately, integrating tribal and rural communities into forest protection is not merely a social justice imperative—it is an ecological necessity. These communities must not be seen as outsiders or encroachers, but as custodians and co-stewards of the forest. As India works to meet its climate goals and expand green cover, it must harness the wisdom, labour, and deep-rooted commitment of those who know the forest as their home.
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Bharat Dogra is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Saving Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, Man over Machine, and A Day in 2071
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