India: Community Based Conservation Amidst Conflict

A report from the Indian organization Kalpavriksh documents community initiatives that protect biodiversity while ensuring their cultural, livelihood and food sovereignty in the Dooars region of North West Bengal. Indigenous communities in this area faced unjust forestry practices since colonial rule that led to the exploitation of forests and usurpation of their customary rights. After the 2006 Forest Rights Act, communities formed a number of forest protection and management committees and engage in activities like forest patrolling, prevention of poaching, illegal felling and clear felling coupe operations that threaten the biodiversity. Read the report here.