• UGI USER
  • Mar 31, 2024
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WILL GLOBAL FOREST EXPANSION HIT TRIBALS?

Syllabus:

  • GS-3– Forests and Wildlife and other concerns related to environment
  • GS-4– Environmental ethics

Focus :

  • The University of Arizona organized a symposium on indigenous peoples’ rights, focusing on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and its potential impact on India’s tribes.
Source:- WRI

Symposium Overview:

  • Held on March 21-22, the event highlighted concerns regarding the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act of 2023 and its implications for indigenous communities already affected by the establishment of national parks.

Understanding the Kunming-Montreal GBF:

  • Adopted during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022.
  • Aims to support sustainable development goals and achieve a global vision of harmony with nature by 2050.
  • Sets ambitious goals for 2050 and targets for 2030 to enhance biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.
  • Requires all parties to establish national targets for implementation.
About CBD(Convention on Biological Diversity) :

·  196 countries have ratified the legally binding Convention on the Conservation of Biodiversity (CCB), which has been in effect since 1993.

·  It lays forth standards for nations to safeguard biodiversity, guarantee sustainable usage, and encourage just and equitable benefit sharing

·  In 2000, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, a supplementary agreement to the Convention, was adopted.

·  It became effective on September 11, 2003, with the aim of safeguarding biological diversity from potential risks posed by genetically modified organisms.

·  The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits (ABS) was adopted in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, during COP10.It came into force on October 12, 2014, extending beyond genetic resources covered by the CBD to include traditional knowledge associated with these resources and the benefits derived from their utilization

Implications of GBF:

  • Target 3 of the GBF aims to increase protected areas to at least 30% of the world’s terrestrial area.
  • Concerns raised at the symposium suggest that GBF goals may favor corporate interests over indigenous communities, leading to potential conflicts over land and resources.
  • Examples from other countries highlight human rights violations and displacement of indigenous peoples due to conservation efforts.

Challenges and Criticisms:

  • Participants argue that involving the private sector in forest conservation could exacerbate inequalities and threaten indigenous livelihoods.
  • The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act of 2023 is criticized for expanding forest activities to include commercial ventures like zoos and ecotourism.
  • Indigenous leaders and activists express concern that GBF targets may lead to the displacement of tribal communities living in protected areas.
FSI Report (Forest Survey of India):

Forest Cover Increase:

·   According to the India State of Forest Report-2021, the country witnessed an increase in forest and tree cover by 2,261 square kilometres compared to the 2019 assessment.

·   The total forest and tree cover in India reached 80.9 million hectares, representing 24.62% of the country’s geographical area.

States with Significant Forest Cover:

·   Seventeen States and Union Territories reported having more than 33% of their area under forest cover.

·   Madhya Pradesh emerged with the largest forest cover, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.

Top Five States by Forest Cover Percentage:

·   Mizoram led the States in terms of forest cover percentage, with 84.53% of its geographical area covered by forests.

·   Arunachal Pradesh followed closely with 79.33% forest cover, while Meghalaya, Manipur, and Nagaland also boasted substantial forest covers of 76%, 74.34%, and 73.90%, respectively.

Impact on India’s Tribal Communities:

  • Most of India’s national parks were established in areas inhabited by indigenous peoples, making them particularly vulnerable to GBF targets.
  • Initiatives like upgrading wildlife sanctuaries to tiger reserves and expanding protected areas could displace tribal villages and threaten their way of life.
  • Cases from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam illustrate the potential impact of conservation efforts on indigenous communities.

Recommendations for Protection:

  • Calls for recognizing the right to free, prior, and informed consent for indigenous communities, in line with existing legislation.
  • Advocates for making tribals custodians of protected areas, acknowledging their role in preserving biodiversity.
  • Emphasizes the importance of addressing human rights violations within protected areas and ensuring access to education, healthcare, and housing for indigenous peoples.

Conclusion and Call to Action:

  • Urges the government of India to reconsider its policies regarding protected areas and tribal lands.
  • Recommends a more inclusive approach to conservation that respects indigenous rights and addresses human rights violations.
  • Highlights the need for multilateral agreements like the GBF to consider the concerns and interests of indigenous communities.

Source:The Hindu

Mains Practice Question :

GS-3

 “Discuss the implications of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) on India’s indigenous communities, particularly in light of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act of 2023. How can the government address the challenges posed by conservation efforts while safeguarding the rights and livelihoods of tribal populations? Provide recommendations for a balanced approach to biodiversity conservation and indigenous rights in India.” (250words)

 GS 4:

The ‘Environment vs Development’ report highlights the complex interplay between biodiversity conservation efforts and developmental initiatives, particularly in areas inhabited by indigenous communities. Consider the following scenario:

A government is tasked with implementing conservation measures outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) to achieve sustainable development goals. However, these measures risk displacing indigenous tribes living in protected areas, as seen in the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act of 2023. The report raises ethical concerns regarding the infringement of indigenous rights and the potential exploitation of their lands for corporate interests under the guise of conservation.

As a policymaker, you are confronted with the dilemma of prioritizing environmental conservation while upholding the rights and well-being of indigenous communities. Your decisions will impact the delicate balance between environmental sustainability and socio-economic development.

  • Discuss the ethical considerations involved in implementing conservation policies that may displace indigenous communities from their ancestral lands.
  • Evaluate the ethical implications of prioritizing environmental goals over the rights and livelihoods of indigenous populations.

Propose ethical frameworks or principles that can guide policymakers in reconciling conflicting interests between environmental conservation and indigenous rights.