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

Environment and Forests & Tribal Affairs Ministries stand by forest rights, oppose any dilution of tribal rights in forest areas – New Delhi

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In a joint strategy for their meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh next week, Environment and Forests Minister Jayanthi Natarajan and Tribal Affairs Minister Kishore Chandra Deo both reportedly plan to oppose any dilution of tribal rights in forest areas. This, despite the fact that their respective secretaries have signed on to a deal with … Read more

Providing unique learning experiences: the family-friendly imagiNATIONS Activity Center of the National Museum of the American Indian – Washington DC

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Open every day, the interactive, family-friendly imagiNATIONS Activity Center provides visitors of all ages with a multitude of unique learning experiences. Native peoples have always used the natural environments around them to meet their needs, and today many of their innovations and inventions are part of daily life for millions worldwide. Visitors to the center … Read more

Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Britannica Online Encyclopedia

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Andaman and Nicobar Islands (union territory, India), union territory, India, consisting of two groups of islands at the southeastern edge of the Bay of Bengal. […] Port Blair (on South Andaman Island) is the territorial capital. […] The Andamans comprise more than 300 islands. […] The Nicobars consist of 19 islands. […] The great majority of … Read more

Survival and democracy within the boundaries of a tiger reserve – Andhra Pradesh

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PAVAN DAHAT, AMRAVATI (MAHARASHTRA), January 2, 2013 Three water hand pumps, out of which only one is working, one defunct TV set (used only for show), three telephone connections (out of which only one is working) are all that Madizadap village in the Amravati district has. Of the 65 families in the small village surrounded by … Read more

Making rat catching an art form: the Irula and Korava – Tamil Nadu

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JANAKI LENIN, The Hindu, December 14, 2012 […] The people who make rat catching an art form are the tribal people living in these parts, the Irula and Korava. Parrys’ is one of the busiest and most congested parts of Chennai city. At night, the Korava prowl through the empty alleys, watched suspiciously by packs of … Read more