Research Scholar

Department Of English

Ravenshaw University

 Cuttack, Odisha, India  

Abstract

This paper discusses the enormous contribution ethnic groups have made to preserving biodiversity in and around the areas where they have lived naturally from the birth of civilization. These ethnic and native people maintain plants utilised as a source of wild edible food in the form of roots, tubers, rhizomes, seeds, fruits, as well as horticultural and agricultural species. Some of the native cultivars preserved by these ethnic groups are used in projects to develop agricultural cultivars with higher productivity and traits that promote resistance to various pests and illnesses. Many of the plants kept by ethnic groups are used as abortifacients, therapies for menstrual irregularities, antidotes for snake and scorpion stings, traditional healers' methods for setting bone fractures, treatments for wounds and arthritis, and so on. Tribals conserve plants as part of in situ biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration on abandoned shifting agriculture sites and in sacred forests.

The world's indigenous and ethnic populations have adapted to thrive in some of the most hostile settings known to man. The fact that these indigenous and ethnic communities live in locations with exceptionally rich biodiversity has been regarded as their most remarkable feature. Indigenous peoples are estimated to number over 300 million globally, with 150 million living in Asia, 30 million in Central and South America, and a sizable proportion in Australia, Europe, New Zealand, Africa, and the Soviet Union. At the moment, India has a diversified population. Native Americans have helped to preserve biological diversity. However, because of the rapid industrial transformation, conservation activities must be carried out in both vertical and horizontal directions. The needs of the twenty-first century include diversity preservation, sustainable management, reproduction of such valuable flora, and their ex-situ as well as in-situ conservation.

Key Words: Ethnicity, Identity, Indigenous Literature, Biodiversity, Cultural Contribution.

Introduction

An ethnic group is a social group or population category that is distinguished and linked together in a broader community by common racial relationships. a group or population of people who share a shared cultural origin or descent. An ethnic group is a population whose members share a real or imagined heritage, such as a shared culture, language, religion, lifestyle, or biological feature. A group of people who have a same cultural history, which distinguishes them from others in a range of social situations. Indigenous Peoples are the inheritors and practitioners of distinct cultures and methods of interacting with others and the environment. They have kept distinct social, cultural, economic, and political characteristics from the dominant societies in which they live. Whereas contemporary mechanised agriculture can result in monoculture deserts, many Indigenous Peoples adopt farming systems that nourish the land while conserving biodiversity rather than eliminating it. Their centuries-old food systems are based on practises that are unique to their natural habitats.

While supplying shelter, food, and medicine, biodiversity also plays an important role in indigenous people's cultural identity. There is even a link between a region's native language population and the diversity of its ecosystems, according to research. Indigenous people number about 300 million people worldwide. They can be found in practically every major biome on the planet, although they are especially common  in the least damaged terrestrial and aquatic environments.

Based on a careful assessment of newly accessible data, this report underlines indigenous peoples' strategic importance in the maintenance and protection of the world's biodiversity. The relationship between indigenous peoples and biodiversity is examined in this article through the lens of four main relationships: the relationship between biological diversity and cultural diversity from a geopolitical and biogeographic perspective; the strategic importance of indigenous peoples in biomass appropriation; the striking overlap between indigenous territories and the last remaining high biodiversity areas on Earth; and the significance of indigenous peoples. The study concludes by emphasising the critical importance of accepting a new bio-cultural axiom: that the only way to effectively sustain the world's biodiversity is to preserve its cultural variety, and vice versa. The diversity of life on Earth is known as biological diversity or biodiversity. One of the primary goals of guaranteeing food security is the preservation of biodiversity, because ecosystems with higher biodiversity are regarded to be healthier. The conservation of biodiversity includes the preservation and management of flora, fauna, and habitats, and indigenous people have had a substantial impact on this endeavour. Ethnic groups have extensive knowledge of the species that comprise their ecosystem, as well as plants as essential resources. As a result, indigenous community engagement in biodiversity conservation efforts is critical to conserving life on Earth. In this article, I look at how indigenous Indians maintain biodiversity through cultural practises. Some endangered animal and plant species have no other option but to live in sacred groves. In a holy forest, tribes restrict chopping even one limb off a tree. In territories controlled by indigenous peoples, the oldest and often most efficient technique of maintaining biodiversity exists. Indigenous community preserved lands, according to estimates, cover more than 13% of the planet's total area, including 400-800 million hectares of forest. Indigenous peoples play an important role in the conservation, promotion, and, in some cases, restoration of biodiversity in areas where they have long relied on it. Meanwhile, biodiversity supplies indigenous people with shelter, food, and medicine, as well as being a vital component of their cultural identity. Several studies have found a link between the diversity of ecosystems and the number of native languages in the area. There are around 300 million indigenous people in the world. They live in almost every major biome on the planet, but mainly in the world's least damaged terrestrial and aquatic environments. This chapter emphasises the strategic relevance of indigenous peoples in the maintenance and conservation of the world's biodiversity, based on an intensive analysis of recently published evidence. The correlation between biological richness and cultural diversity on both geopolitical and biogeographic levels, the strategic importance of indigenous peoples in biomass appropriation, the remarkable overlap between indigenous territories and the world's remaining areas of high biodiversity, and the importance of indigenous views, knowledge, and practises in biodiversity conservation are all examined. It concludes by emphasising the critical importance of recognising a new bio-cultural axiom: that the world's biodiversity can only be effectively protected by sustaining cultural variety, and vice versa. The variety of life forms on Earth is referred to as biological diversity, also known as biodiversity. Ecosystems with increased biodiversity are regarded healthier, and hence biodiversity protection is one of the key goals for ensuring food security. The preservation and management of flora, animals, and habitats is referred to as biodiversity conservation, and indigenous people have made major contributions to biodiversity conservation. Ethnic communities have a good understanding of the species that comprise their ecosystem and a thorough appreciation of plants as valuable commodities. As a result, indigenous peoples' engagement in biodiversity conservation programmes is critical to the survival of life on Earth. In this section, we will look at the role of indigenous peoples and their practises in biodiversity conservation in India. Some endangered animal and plant species have no other option but to live in sacred groves. Tribals forbid cutting even a single limb of a tree from a holy grove. Indigenous-managed areas are the oldest and frequently most effective form of biodiversity conservation. The global coverage of Indigenous Community Conserved Areas is estimated to constitute around 13% of the planet's terrestrial area, comprising 400-800 million hectares of forest. Indigenous peoples are critical stakeholders in protecting, promoting, and even restoring biodiversity in locations where they have long relied on local surroundings for a variety of resources. It signifies our history and identity, our connection to the past, present, and future. In an age of globalisation, cultural heritage assists us in remembering our cultural variety and developing mutual respect and renewing communication among other cultures. Indigenous peoples' and local communities' rights, which have always been the most effective defenders of biodiversity, must also be recognised and maintained. The framework should have a "human rights-based approach, respecting, protecting, and fulfilling rights, particularly indigenous and collective rights, and gender equity" by actively pursuing ways to support and promote indigenous communities and their rights. The post-2020 GBF must incorporate traditional knowledge, practises, and technologies while adhering to the principles of free, prior, and informed consent.

Role of Indigenous People in Biodiversity Conservation:

Conserving Natural Flora: The tribal communities' magicalo-religious belief in plants as a god and goddess habitat leads to their conservation in their natural environment. Furthermore, ethnic and indigenous people retain a wide range of plants such as crop plants, wild fruits, seeds, bulbs, roots, and tubers since they rely on these sources for food. Traditional Knowledge Application: Indigenous people and biodiversity are mutually beneficial. Rural people have amassed a wealth of indigenous knowledge for the cultivation and multiplication of medicinal plants over time.  These protected herbs can be used as antidotes for snake and scorpion bites, as well as for fractured bones and orthopaedic therapies. Conserving Tribal Sacred Groves: India's ethnic people have played an important part in preserving the biodiversity of various virgin forests by conserving flora and wildlife in tribal sacred groves. Otherwise, these plants and animals might have vanished from the natural ecology.

Difficulties Faced by the Indigenous People:

Disruption Following World Heritage Site Designation: The strategy used to segregate indigenous people from their natural environments in order to safeguard biodiversity is the underlying source of conflict between them and conservationists. With the designation of natural habitat as a World Heritage Site, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) assumes responsibility for the region's conservation. This results in an influx of many outside individuals and technical equipment, which disrupts the lives of the Indigenous people. Lax Forest Rights Act Implementation: Many Indian states have a poor track record of enforcing the Forest Rights Act (FRA). Several conservation organisations have challenged the validity of the FRA before the Supreme Court. Development vs. Conservation: Often, the combined stretch of territory claimed by Indigenous people has been taken away for dam construction, mining, constructing railway lines and highways, power plants, and other purposes. Furthermore, forcibly removing tribal peoples from their territory will harm the environment and violate human rights.

International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity:

The IIFB is a group of indigenous government leaders, indigenous nongovernmental organisations, indigenous researchers and activists who organise around the CBD and other key international environmental gatherings. Its goal is to help organise indigenous strategy at meetings, provide advise to government parties, and influence how government duties to recognise and respect indigenous rights to knowledge and resources are interpreted. The IIFB was established in November 1996 at the III Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CoP III) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

What should be the Approach Moving Forward?

Recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Rights: Recognising the rights of forest dwellers who rely on the woods is as vital as declaring natural habitat as a World Heritage Site for preserving the region's unique biodiversity. Effective FRA Implementation: The government must work to develop confidence between its agencies in the area and the people who rely on these forests by treating them as equal citizens with the rest of the country. Traditional Tribal understanding for Conservation: The Biodiversity Act of 2002 mentions the equitable sharing of benefits derived from the usage and understanding of biological resources with local populations. As a result, all stakeholders must recognise that indigenous peoples' traditional knowledge is a viable path forward for more effective biodiversity conservation. Forest Scientists and Tribals: Tribal peoples are widely regarded as the best conservationists because they have a deeper spiritual connection with nature. Respecting indigenous peoples' rights is the cheapest and quickest strategy to conserve high biodiversity places. Indigenous Peoples and their natural environment are intricately interwoven. The land they occupy nourishes their food systems as well as their ways of life, from medicinal plants to staple crops like cassava.They do, however, help to preserve the world's biodiversity. Indigenous Peoples' territories contain 80% of the world's surviving biodiversity.Instead of eliminating biodiversity, many Indigenous Peoples adopt farming systems that nourish the land and protect biodiversity.Their centuries-old food systems are based on environmentally responsible practises that are specific to their natural ecosystems. Indigenous peoples are critical stakeholders in protecting, promoting, and even restoring biodiversity in locations where they have relied on local surroundings for a variety of resources, such as food. Conservationists and Indigenous people share the goal of preserving biodiversity, even if their motivations differ. That creates a cruel irony when tribal peoples are separated from the ecosystem they have protected for the sake of protecting the environment.

Indigenous peoples are a part of a certain ecology. They have unique knowledge of their community. This critical section is always overlooked. Indigenous peoples are among the most marginalised and vulnerable communities in countries around the world. Indigenous people can assist preserve natural resources by minimising environmental degradation and maintaining traditional buildings, as well as creating handicrafts to attract tourists and generate economic circumstances in their own surroundings. Indigenous people are persons who lived in a country or geographical location at the time when  people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived. The newcomers rose to power through conquest, occupation, settlement, or other ways. Indigenous peoples preserve social, cultural, economic, and political traits that differ from those of the dominant societies in which they dwell. It is estimated that around 370 million indigenous people live in 70 nations around the world. Indigenous peoples are vital to resource conservation. Please take a look at the following handy links. The debate about how much of the Earth should be protected frequently overshadows the subject of how and by whom nature should be conserved. I present a systematic assessment and narrative synthesis of 169 publications that investigate how different types of governance influence conservation outcomes, with a focus on the role of Indigenous peoples and local communities. I present a comprehensive assessment and narrative synthesis of 169 publications that investigate how various kinds of governance influence conservation outcomes, with a focus on Indigenous peoples and local communities. I uncover a dramatic difference between the outcomes of externally controlled conservation and those of locally controlled efforts. Importantly, the majority of studies demonstrating positive outcomes for both well-being and conservation come from cases in which Indigenous peoples and local communities play a central role, such as when they have significant influence over decision making or when local institutions regulating tenure are recognised as part of governance. In contrast, initiatives controlled by external organisations and involving strategies to change local practises and displace customary institutions tend to produce relatively little outcomes. My findings imply that equitable conservation, which empowers and supports Indigenous peoples' and local communities' environmental stewardship, is the major avenue to effective long-term biodiversity conservation, especially when supported by broader law and policy. Conservation can become more effective through a greater focus on governance type and quality, as well as fostering solutions that reinforce the role, capacity, and rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities, whether for protected areas in biodiversity hotspots or restoration of highly modified ecosystems, whether involving highly traditional or diverse and dynamic local communities. Here I outline how to implement progressive governance transitions through conservation policy suggestions, with direct importance for meeting the UN Convention on Biological Diversity's conservation targets for the coming decade. Most Indigenous Peoples suffer disproportionately from biological diversity loss and environmental degradation due to their subsistence economies and spiritual attachment to lands and territories. Environmental degradation, large-scale industrial activities, toxic waste, conflicts and forced migration, as well as land-use and land-cover changes (such as deforestation for agriculture and extractives) endanger their lives, survival, development opportunities, knowledge, environment, and health conditions. Climate change is exacerbating these difficulties. Some mitigating methods, such as biofuel projects, can actually worsen the threat to Indigenous Peoples' territories and coping strategies.  While biofuel initiatives are intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they may have an impact on Indigenous Peoples' ecosystems, water supply, and landscape, ultimately leading to an increase in monoculture crops and plantations and a decline in biodiversity, food, and water security. When Indigenous Peoples' rights, particularly their rights to land, territory, and resources, are safeguarded, their culture thrives, and nature thrives. Indigenous Peoples' contributions are critical in formulating and implementing ecosystem solutions. Traditional knowledge and legacy can help with environmental evaluations and the management of sustainable ecosystems. Sustainable production and consumption of indigenous and traditional foods, for example, has incalculable benefits for natural resources and ecosystems, contributes to a more sustainable and healthier diet, and aids in the mitigation of climate change. UNEP will continue to promote traditional crops and pastoralism. More broadly, UNEP is collaborating with the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to publish work on traditional knowledge for ecosystem restoration and resilience, which will be introduced at the UN Environment Assembly's fifth meeting, which will mark the start of the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030).The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples mandates Indigenous Peoples' free, prior, and informed consent on areas of fundamental importance to their rights, survival, dignity, and well-being. Furthermore, dialogues to gain this permission must respect local governance and decision-making procedures and structures, take place in indigenous languages and on Indigenous Peoples' timetables, and be free of coercion or threat. The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are critical policy tools for Indigenous Peoples to use to express their concerns and lobby for policy change at the UN. Indigenous Peoples, on the other hand, continue to be marginalised at the national and local levels. In response, UNEP has established a policy to promote environmental defender protection, under which it will denounce attacks, torture, intimidation, and murder of environmental defenders; advocate for better protection of environmental rights and the people who stand up for them; support responsible management of natural resources; and demand accountability for events that have harmed environmental defenders. UNEP also collaborates with religious leaders and communities to work with Indigenous Peoples through the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative. This work is centred on the mutual acknowledgement of the sanctity of life and nature, as well as the equality of world faiths' beliefs and Indigenous Peoples' ancient spiritualities. I hope that by doing so, we can help to the preservation of ancient knowledge while also healing our world by facilitating the resolution of past conflicts between faiths and Indigenous Peoples.

References

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