A crisis of too many, not too few.

Reflections on elephants, trees, conservation and the future by Dr Brian Child.

Themes: Conservation, Parks, Human rights, Poverty, Tourism, Animal rights, Indigenous people

From a series of articles published in Botswana's Mmegionline between April and July 2019

Conservation hysteria or Conservation fact?

Botswana re-introduces hunting to a chorus of criticism.

Themes: Conservation, Indigenous people, NGOs, Parks, Poverty

After Ian Khama stepped down as President of Botswana to be replaced by Mokgweetsi Masisi some of the corner stone "environmental" policies of Ian Khama were immediately up for review. Political gamesmanship or sound conservation strategy?

Forest Rights Lost.

Evictions Loom Over a Million Adivasis.

Themes: Conservation, Parks, Policy, Human rights, Indigenous people, Poverty

How can the competing issues of conservation and indigenous rights work in harmony to ensure both forests and the livelihoods of their inhabitants are protected?

Botswana has found her voice about elephants – but will we listen?

Themes: Conservation, Indigenous people, Human rights, Poverty

Botswana elephants – to trophy hunt and cull, or not? The current international furore over a Botswana government White Paper (discussion document) regarding elephant management necessitates an understanding of the entire picture. This is one of a series of opinion pieces on the subject published by Africa Geographic

Millions of forest-dwelling indigenous people in India to be evicted

Critics say supreme court ruling constitutes ‘mass eviction in name of conservation’

Themes: Conservation, Human rights, Indigenous people, Poverty

Millions of Indians face eviction after the country’s supreme court ruled that indigenous people illegally living on forest land should move. Campaigners for the rights of tribal and forest-dwelling people have called the court’s decision on Wednesday “an unprecedented disaster” and “the biggest mass eviction in the name of conservation, ever”.

The future of forest conservation.

Themes: Conservation, Indigenous people, Human rights, Poverty, Parks

History is being made in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Local communities have participated in redrawing the borders of a nature reserve. They now seek effective participation in the management of the reserve. If successful, this experience could become a model for future conservation projects.

Cornered by Protected Areas.

Vicky Tauli-Corpuz (UN Special rapporteur) and RRI launch an RRI brief derived from the upcoming Indigenous Peoples and Protected Areas report.

Themes: Conservation, Human rights, Indigenous people, REDD, Policy, Poverty, CBD, Financialisation

Indigenous Peoples and local communities have been conserving their lands and forests for centuries. But the rise of “fortress conservation” is forcing them from their homes, hurting people and forests alike.

A Decade since Trent Keegan was Murdered and Thomson Safaris Continue Occupying Maasai Land.

View from the Termite Mound A blog about threats against Maasai land in Loliondo - Thomson Safaris, OBC and ruthless hypocrisy.

Themes: Conservation, Human rights, Indigenous people, Parks, Poverty, Tourism, FPIC

In this blog post: - Tanzania Breweries Limited; Thomson Safaris take Maasai land as their nature refuge; Lesinko shot at Enashiva Nature Refuge; Trent murdered; 2009 drought; The sign; First international article; The PM’s “report”; Unanswered UN letters; The court cases; Becoming a blogger; The negotiations; Children beaten; Five herders prosecuted for trespass; Killing a website; More journalists in trouble; Olunjai shot; The big intimidation campaign in Loliondo; Charity as a weapon – and recently buying who could not be bought; Current silence.