Tribes and Conservation

Since time immemorial, the tribal communities have had a deep connection with the nature surrounding them. Their sustenance within the ecosphere stands as the biggest example of how peacefully nature and humans can coexist. The everyday life of the tribe showcases and documents the evidence of these relationships between the two. Their culture, traditions, art, and rituals tell the story of how conservation can be a mindful step if little is worked upon in the conservation of these species. 

One needs to realise that the land these tribal communities live on is not just common land that sustains them. For them, it is like a living space. These lands have evolved to be an important part of their everyday lives, which reshapes their relationship with nature. Whether they see it as a shared entity between wildlife and humans or treat it sacredly in their symbolism. These varied ecosystems have evolved to be a cultural reverence in stories and folklores, and are seasonal in use. The tribes show their respect towards the land by exercising sustainable practices which keep the land regenerative. The whole biosphere is treated as an extension of human and vice versa.  

The beauty of this relation resonates both nationally and internationally. Whether one notices the Bhil tribe of Rajasthan, where folklore establishes them as direct descendants of the tigers or the Maori tribe of New Zealand that worships the kiwi as a sacred bird. The Art forms of various tribes also showcase how biodiversity largely affects the lives of these people. Whether the focus lies on the totem poles depicting species like ravens, bears and whales that are created by the Haida tribe in North America or the depiction of the cows, elephants and the avian culture in the Saura art of Odisha. 

The existence of the tribal communities all across the globe becomes one of the prime reasons for the species to be protected. The Global Wildlife Fair, hence, becomes a platform for the celebration of such rituals and art forms that bring various folklores and conservation in one frame.