Will global forest expansion hit tribals?

Subject: Environment

Section: Int Convention

Context:

A symposium hosted by the University of Arizona focused on the Conservation, Racism, and Indigenous Peoples Human Rights, highlighting concerns regarding the impact of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act of 2023 on India’s tribes.
Participants warned that these measures, along with the establishment of national parks, could exacerbate challenges for indigenous communities, potentially leading to detrimental consequences.

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF):

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was established during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN- CBD) in December 2022 after four years of consultations and negotiations.
It aims to guide the world towards living in harmony with nature by 2050,supporting sustainable development goals.
The framework sets four goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030, focusing on planning, monitoring, finance, capacity development, and technical cooperation, including agreements on digital sequence information on genetic resources.
One significant target (Target 3) highlighted by rights activist Suhas Chakma seeks to expand protected areas to cover at least 30% of the world’s terrestrial area, up from the current 16%, emphasizing areas crucial for biodiversity and ecosystem functions.

What are the implications?

The Symposium on Conservation, Racism, and Indigenous Peoples Human Rights raised concerns that the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) might inadvertently prioritize corporate interests over the rights and well-being of indigenous communities.
- Examples include indigenous peoples being denied basic rights (the right to housing, health, education, electricity, and security) in Indonesia’s Ujungkulon National Park and the conviction of an indigenous leader in Cambodiaunder dubious legal circumstances for farming her land.
- Moreover, significant portions of Cambodia’s Botum Sakor National Park have been sold to private entities.
The symposium criticized India’s Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act of 2023 for potentially allowing corporate exploitation under the guise of conservation through activities like zoos and ecotourism.
Protected areas (PAs) were originally designed for the leisure of colonial elites, a concept which has scarcely evolved, reducing indigenous communities to mere exhibits in modern conservation efforts.

What would GBF mean for India?

The implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) in India poses a significant threat to the existence of indigenous communities, with about 84% of India’s national parks established in areas inhabited by these communities.
Activists highlight that meeting GBF targets could lead to the displacement of indigenous peoples.
For example, upgrading the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary to a tiger reserve would impact 162 tribal villages, and expanding the Nauradehi Sanctuary would affect 62 mostly tribal villages.
Additionally, the creation of the Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam is controversial, as despite official records claiming the area is free of encroachments, indigenous groups, like the Khasis, possess documents proving their long-standing residency since 1914.

What can be done to protect the tribal lands?

Need for the recognition of the right to free, prior, and informed consent as outlined in the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996 and making tribes the custodians of Protected Areas (PAs),acknowledging their crucial role in conserving nature.

Source: TH