Conservation as CoexistenceConservation as Coexistence
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: TFL
Subject: Environment
Context: A recent analysis highlights that India must shift from exclusionary, top-down wildlife protection towards community-rooted conservation.
• The idea of “Conservation as Coexistence” has gained prominence after new evidence showed that biodiversity thrives where local communities remain active stewards.
About Conservation as Coexistence:
What is Conservation?
• Conservation refers to the sustainable management of ecosystems, species, and natural resources so they can renew themselves and support both biodiversity and human well-being.
Types of Conservation:
• Protection-based conservation: Involves creating strictly regulated zones like national parks and sanctuaries where human activity is restricted to prevent disturbances to wildlife habitats and ecological processes.
• Community-based conservation: Local communities manage and protect forests, grazing lands, and water bodies using traditional norms, ensuring sustainable use while maintaining biodiversity.
• Co-management models: Government agencies and local communities jointly plan and manage ecosystems, blending statutory authority with indigenous knowledge for balanced conservation outcomes.
• Landscape-level conservation: Focuses on protecting ecological networks across farms, forests, wetlands, and corridors beyond protected boundaries to sustain wide-ranging species and ecosystem functions.
Existing Conservation Methods in India:
• Protected Areas Network: India designates national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and tiger reserves to legally safeguard core habitats for flagship species and critical ecosystems.
• Legal Frameworks: Strong laws like the WLPA 1972, Forest Conservation Act 1980, and CAMPA regulate diversion, protection, and regeneration of forests through stringent permitting systems.
• Species-specific Missions: Flagship programs such as Project Tiger, Project Elephant, and Project Snow Leopard target recovery of vulnerable species through habitat protection and scientific monitoring.
• Regulatory Tools & Enforcement: Eco-sensitive zones, anti-poaching squads, and advanced tracking technologies strengthen on-ground enforcement and buffer impacts near protected areas.
• Expansion & Relocation: Protected areas are increasingly expanded, with voluntary relocation of human settlements to reduce human–wildlife conflict and improve habitat integrity.
Limitations of Existing Methods:
• Exclusionary Approach: Eviction and restrictions imposed on indigenous communities sever traditional stewardship systems that historically safeguarded local biodiversity.
• Colonial Mindset: Conservation assumes forests must be “pristine,” ignoring that many Indian ecosystems are cultural landscapes shaped by human–nature interactions over centuries.
• Weak Enforcement: Mining pressures, encroachment, inadequate manpower, and poor surveillance compromise the ecological security of protected areas.
• Human–Wildlife Conflict: Hard boundaries and fencing increase conflict by restricting wildlife movement without addressing the livelihood dependence of local communities.
• High Financial Cost: State-led conservation drains crores annually for patrolling and infrastructure, whereas community-managed forests sustain themselves at minimal cost.
Best Case Studies of Coexistence Conservation:
• Gir Landscape, Gujarat: Nearly half of Asiatic lions now thrive outside Gir National Park due to Maldhari pastoralists’ tolerance, supported by efficient compensation systems and cultural reverence.
• Biate Villages, Jaintia Hills (Meghalaya): Community-managed jhum landscapes showed no deforestation or species decline, even revealing new bird records—highlighting that traditional land use can sustain biodiversity.
Redefining Conservation in India:
• Shift to Inclusive Conservation: Policy must move from fortress-style protection to models that integrate community rights, cultural values, and participatory decision-making.
• Recognising Indigenous Knowledge: Traditional ecological practices, such as rotational farming, sacred groves, and species taboos, must be formally integrated into conservation planning.
• Landscape-scale Governance: Conservation should expand beyond park boundaries by linking forests, farms, pastures, and wetlands into coherent ecological networks that support wide-ranging species.
• Shared Governance & FPIC: Ensuring fair compensation, transparent benefit-sharing, and free, prior, informed consent for local communities builds trust and strengthens long-term conservation outcomes.
Conclusion:
India’s ecological future depends on recognising that people are not external threats but essential partners in conservation. True sustainability emerges where cultural practices, livelihoods, and biodiversity reinforce each other. Conservation must evolve into a model of coexistence—rooted in justice, community wisdom, and shared stewardship of the land.
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