Why in news?

Recently, a symposium on the rights of indigenous people was organised by the University of Arizona. It focused on how the Global Biodiversity Framework and India's Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act of 2023 will impact tribes.

What’s in today’s article?

• Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
• Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal GBF
• GBF and India – status, way forward

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)

• About
  • This framework was adopted during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, or COP15, to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022.
  • It aims to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals and build on previous strategic plans.
  • It sets a bold path towards global harmony with nature by 2050.
  • In adopting the GBF, all parties committed to setting national targets to implement it.
• Goals and targets
  • The GBF consists of 23 targets(set for 2030) and four global goals(set for 2050) to preserve biodiversity for current and future generations.
  • The targets address reducing threats to biodiversity, meeting people's needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing, and tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming.
• Legal nature
  • GBF is not an international treaty and is therefore not legally binding on Parties.
  • It also doesn't require a mandatory system that forces parties to step up their efforts at a specific time.

Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal GBF

• About
  • Target 3 of the GBF is to ensure that at least 30% of the world's land, waters, and seas are conserved by 2030.
    • At present, protected areas (PAs) cover about 16%.
  • This target is also known as the "30 by 30" target.
• Controversy
  • As per analysts, this target seems harmless but often benefit corporations over indigenous communities, especially in Southeast Asia.
    • In Indonesia's Ujungkulon National Park, indigenous people lack basic rights like housing, health, and education.
    • Similarly, in Cambodia's Beng Per Wildlife Sanctuary, an indigenous leader, Heng Saphen, was unfairly convicted for farming on her own land.
  • Involving the private sector in forest conservation is a bad idea.
    • Analysts pointed out that India has taken a step in this direction with the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act to 2023.
    • The act includes zoos, safaris, ecotourism facilities, etc., as forest activities.
  • According to experts, protected areas were first made for leisure and hunting by colonial elites.
  • The concept has not changed much. Today, ecotourism projects still treat indigenous people like exhibits.

What would GBF mean for India?

• About 84% of India’s national parks (89 out of a total of 106) were established in areas inhabited by the indigenous peoples and meeting the GBF targets will threaten their existence.
• E.g., the initiative to upgrade the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan to a tiger reserve will affect 162 tribal villages located inside and outside the sanctuary.
• Similarly, the expansion of the Nauradehi Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is set to affect 62 villages of mostly tribal people.
• In Assam, the June 2022, notification for the Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary will affect the Khasis, Dimasas, and other indigenous groups.
  • The gazette notification states that the sanctuary is free from encroachment as per record, there are no rights and concessions of any person in the area.
  • However, the Khasis possess documents showing they have been living in the area since 1914.

What can be done to protect the tribal lands?

• A global agreement like the Kunming-Montreal GBF can't be changed, but India must update its policies.
• Role of tribals as guardians
  • It should acknowledge the right to free, prior, and informed consent as per the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act.
  • Additionally, laws should be amended to make tribal communities guardians of protected areas, as they have historically protected nature due to their close ties with forests and wildlife.
• Creation of protected areas in non-tribal areas
  • If tiger reserves can be created in areas where there are no tigers such as Sahyadri (Maharashtra), Satkosia (Odisha), Kamlang (Arunachal Pradesh), Kawal (Telangana), and Dampa (Mizoram), there is no reason why PAs cannot be created in non-tribal areas.
• Address human rights violations in the PAs seriously
  • India ought to address human rights violations in the PAs seriously.
  • Human rights issues of these people such as access to education, healthcare, and housing cannot be left to the Wildlife or Forest Department.