Ecology & environment

“In Central India, individual plant species figure in the first fruit ceremonies of the adivasi (indigenous) communities. During certain periods of the year, their fruits, flowers, leaves or seeds are not collected or consumed. This allows those species to rest for a few weeks or months during crucial periods for their growth or regeneration. The norms around these practices or methods are often embedded within the cultural-religious traditions of communities. As a knowledge system being transferred between generations, seldom are they explained or discussed in terms of ecology or conservation.” – Madhu Ramnath in “How culture threatens species A note on Caryota urens in South India” (Current Conservation 16.3, accessed 4 December 2022)
https://www.currentconservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/16.3.pdf
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=20305

Celebrating the United Nation’s International Mountain Day with the Kaani community at Vellambi (Western Ghats) – Tamil Nadu

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International Mountain Day was celebrated at the Vellambi Tribal Settlement, Keeriparai in the Western Ghats on December 11 by the Tribal Foundation. Addressing the indigeous Kaani people, environmental educator, S S Davidson said International Mountain Day is an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints … Read more

Adivasi mahouts who never beat their elephant: In search of workable solutions for dealing with rogue elephants – Tamil Nadu

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Mari Marcel Thekaekara, New Internationalist, November 5, 2013 | Read the full blog here >> […] Living as we do on the edge of the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, we hear many elephant stories, not all pretty. Our much-maligned forest department gets a lot of flack from animal rights activists for catching and taming rogue elephants. All of us … Read more

“Absence of a concept of ownership”: Karkala Conference on tribal communities – Karnataka

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The Hindu, Karkala (Udupi District), April 18, 2010 Writer and former Vice-Chancellor of Hampi Kannada University Chandrashekhar Kambar said on Saturday that the Government should take help from sympathetic scholars belonging to tribal communities in understanding the needs and problems of tribal people. He was presiding over the inauguration of the two-day second tribal sammelan, … Read more

Resilience in the face of modernization: India’s Supreme Court protects the Dongria’s right to living in Niyamgiri forests – Odisha

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[…] Twelve Dongria villages have now unanimously voted against Vedanta’s mine during consultations ordered by India’s Supreme Court in April 2013, because their religious, cultural and social rights would be jeopardized if mining were to go ahead. Dongria leader Lodu Sikaka said, ‘Our God lives in open space, you keep your God locked up with … Read more