Indigenous Communities

Indigenous Communities: Nature’s True Stewards

Indigenous communities around the world have been the heroes of conservation, living in harmony with nature Indigenous communities have proven to be silent conservationists living amidst nature and nurturing information that is millennia-old.

At the Global Wildlife Fair, we would like to commemorate these communities for safeguarding our planet's biodiversity while reflecting on challenges that need to be overcome. Let's take a closer look at three remarkable examples: the Bodos of Raimona National Park, the communities safeguarding the Markhor in Kashmir, and the guardians of Valmiki Tiger Reserve.

The Bodo People -  Raimona National Park
In Assam’s Raimona National Park, the Bodo community stands as a beacon of sustainable living. Deeply connected to the land, the Bodos have traditionally managed the forests with respect and practicality, using their genuine love and affection for these forests from their ancestors.

Through community-led conservation initiatives like eco-tourism and forest management, the Bodos are preserving Raimona’s rich biodiversity, which includes the golden langur and Asian elephant, all while keeping their cultural heritage alive.

Markhor Guardians in Kashmir
In the far-flung valleys of Kashmir, one small community has taken on the vital task of protecting this rare endangered Markhor, the region’s majestic wild goat. They have led the way when it comes to merged wildlife protection with economic benefits through community-based conservation programs. All income from managed and sustainable activities then goes back to indigenous communities improving education, infrastructure, etc through conservation. The method not only caused an increase in the numbers of Markhor but also led locals to nature protection

Valmiki Tiger Reserve Communities
These communities make their home in and around Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar, India — one of this country's most critical corridors for wild tigers. Living in symbiosis with the reserve´s wildlife, these communities— who substantially depend on that forest as part of their daily living sources — have engaged in an ecotourism and sustainable lifestyle alternative. Engagement of the local communities in conservation work and providing them with alternative livelihood sources has led to a decrease in human-tiger strife—the tigers at Valmiki Tiger Reserve are more protected, and so is the community living around it. 

More information will be provided soon on Van Gujjars in Uttarakhand and ecotourism players in Orissa.
Should you wish to list case studies, please get in touch with us.

A Shared Future
These communities' stories demonstrate that transferring traditional methods within this type of conservation strategy helps keep local knowledge and cultural practices alive and is also key to preserving biodiversity. In building up indigenous and local communities, we are defending the wildlife of our planet with it. Looking ahead, it is plain to see that the road towards conservation sustainability will be one we walk hand in hand with those who have known these lands better and longer than anyone else.