Indigenous people fare well in nature conservation amid Covid

Studies reveal major job losses among the protected area rangers, reductions in anti-poaching patrols, and environmental protection rollbacks.

New Delhi: A new special issue of PARKS, the journal of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, revealed massive impacts on global conservation efforts seen during the Covid-19 pandemic. The special issue dives deep into the long-term ramifications that the global pandemic may have on conservation.

Studies reveal major job losses among the protected area rangers, reductions in anti-poaching patrols, and environmental protection rollbacks. Bright spots from around the world, however, emerged as studies showed indigenous peoples and local communities with governance power over their lands and waters were in many cases able to continue to steward their resources and protected areas even amid the massive economic downturns and significant increases in local reliance on ecosystem resources for food and livelihoods.

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WCS scientist Sangeeta Mangubhai contributed to two peer-reviewed papers published in the Parks journal. The first, titled “Covid-19, Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities and Natural Resource Governance,” explores the ways in which Covid-19 is affecting communities from 40 countries who manage and conserve their own lands and waters.

Findings outline the importance of self-empowerment and recognition of indigenous peoples and local communities rights, which allowed those communities to utilise traditional medicines, meet subsistence requirements, help individuals sustain livelihoods, and govern, defend and conserve their territories during lockdowns.

The second study, titled “Marine Protected and Conserved Areas in the Time of Covid,” presents 15 diverse case studies of marine protected and conserved areas from around the world as a framework for rethinking the future of conservation. Marine protected and conserved areas pre-pandemic statuses are reviewed and compared to current state Covid-19 conditions, focusing on innovative post-pandemic conservation approaches that equally balance both management for conservation and management for sustainable livelihoods.

“Covid-19 has been a tough phase for everyone. But, there are many important stories of resilience to inspire us, and to learn from. For example, indigenous peoples and local communities with rights to govern their lands and waters were able to put in place protective measures to isolate themselves and maintain the protection of their natural resources, highlighting their self-sufficiency,” said Mangubhai, WCS Fiji Country Director.