Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 73
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 74
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
Notice (8): Undefined variable: urlPrefix [APP/Template/Layout/printlayout.ctp, line 8]latest-news-updates/before-we-blame-forest-dwellers-for-poaching-during-the-pandemic-we-must-recognise-our-own-hypocrisy-meera-anna-oommen-and-kartik-shanker.html"/> LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Before we blame forest-dwellers for ‘poaching’ during the pandemic, we must recognise our own hypocrisy -Meera Anna Oommen and Kartik Shanker | Im4change.org
Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Before we blame forest-dwellers for ‘poaching’ during the pandemic, we must recognise our own hypocrisy -Meera Anna Oommen and Kartik Shanker

-The Hindu

Forest communities are being seen as the primary drivers of denudation during lockdown, while we continue to ignore the impacts of fast-tracked environmental clearances for dams and mines

A photograph of a young man, presumably tribal, or a returning migrant, or both, with the carcasses of two hares slung over his shoulder, was recently emblazoned on the cover of a report by a reputed wildlife NGO. The report — based on nothing more than a cursory look at social media posts — claimed that the rates of poaching in India had doubled during the COVID-19-induced national lockdown. Within days, it was widely broadcast by media both in India and abroad. If only research were so easy and its results so simple.

Indeed, the social and economic impacts of a crisis like the current pandemic and lockdown are more than likely to escalate hunting and harvesting of natural resources, including wildlife. But for many rural communities, the village commons and forests yield the only easily available source of protein. And a dubious mix of bad science, elitist ideology and social media has demonised these most marginalised people.

Please click here to read more.