Role of Tribespeople in the Sustenance of Biodiversity and Agroecosystem

Abstract

Most ecoregions worldwide have experienced significant habitat conversion, with high levels of transformation and inadequate protection prevalent across Europe, South and Southeast Asia, Western South and North America, Western Africa, and Madagascar. Conversely, ecoregions requiring substantial protection and minimal conversion are largely found in the Arctic, Northern Amazon, North Asia, and Central Australia. Historically, long before formal conservation strategies emerged, tribespeople developed sophisticated conservation practices that effectively preserved environmental richness. These practices included sophisticated codes to prevent overhunting and maintain biodiversity. Tribespeople, acting as guardians of wildlife, engage in diverse livelihoods that include agriculture, hunting, and gathering edible plants. They also contribute to genome conservation at both community and individual levels. However, tribal communities face significant challenges such as eviction for conservation purposes, loss of control over natural resources, displacement, and legal issues. Solutions to these challenges have been explored through isolation, assimilation, and integration approaches. To reconcile conservation with tribal rights, it is crucial that conservationists protect the land rights of tribespeople, consult them on their needs, and support their traditional practices. Evidence increasingly shows that tribespeople, who manage a wide range of species crucial for their food, health, and economic security, are exceptionally skilled at environmental stewardship. Thus, conservation efforts should focus on upholding tribal land rights as a cost-effective solution, leveraging the tribes' deep-rooted knowledge and practices for better environmental outcomes.