India’s tiger reserves are often considered a global success story in conservation. Yet, beneath this public image lies a tragic and ongoing conflict: the forced eviction of Indigenous Peoples from their ancestral lands.

Following the one-year anniversary of the historic protest waged by Maasai communities in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), the Oakland Institute calls on the Tanzanian government to respect their rights to land and life and end mass eviction plans.

Edward, a Maasai leader and a recently appointed member of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, speaks out in a video testimony explaining the issue of “business rather than conservation.“

This side event, held on 16 July 2025 during the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), shed light on ongoing human rights violations linked to the creation and management of protected areas, particularly UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Renowned Indigenous rights defender and environmental advocate Patricia Gualinga Montalvo of the Sarayaku People in the Ecuadorian Amazon has been appointed to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) for the 2026–2028 term.

As the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) convenes its 91st session in Geneva this week, a critical issue is being raised: the alarming threat to the land rights and livelihoods of Indigenous women in Thailand.

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has expressed serious concern over information suggesting a significant risk of displacement and forced evictions facing tribal and forest-dwelling Indigenous Peoples in India. The Committee received this information under its early warning and urgent action procedure.

This report examines the intersection of conservation policy, Indigenous Peoples' rights, and sustainable land stewardship in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), with a specific focus on the Maasai Indigenous Peoples.

As an advocate admitted to the Bar in Kenya with an accomplished background in Indigenous Peoples’ human rights, Kiptoo is committed to continue the Endorois’ struggle in reclaiming their rights and ancestral lands, despite the slow pace of justice in his home country.

Across India, the Mau Forest and Lake Bogoria in Kenya, and Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Indigenous communities are being evicted, harassed, and cut off from their ancestral lands—all in the name of “conservation.” In these powerful video testimonials, Indigenous people speak out about the violence and injustice they face under fortress conservation. Their stories demand attention—and action.