Political activist Pranab Doley, a member of the indigenous community of Bokakhat displaced during the expansion of Kaziranga National Park, wrote an open letter a day before the PM’s visit. The letter highlighted the evictions taking place in Kaziranga, the human rights violations in Kaziranga, the excessive power given to the forest authorities, and the illegal constructions by politicians and corporates in Kaziranga.

What are the concerns about the Global Biodiversity Framework which aims to increase areas under forest cover, inland water, coastal and marine areas to at least 30% of the world’s terrestrial area? What is the situation in India?

In a powerful demonstration of solidarity and advocacy on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21), Professor Robert A. Williams, Jr.; Faculty Co-Chair, Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program, featured prominently in the Anti-Racism Live 2024 event organized by Peace One Day.

The Scheduled Tribes in India will bear the brunt of this expansion, as 89 of the 106 notified national parks in the country were established in areas that they lived. This means that 84% of protected areas in India overlap with tribal areas, New Delhi-based rights activist Suhas Chakma said at the symposium on ‘Conservation, Racism, and Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights’.