A thought on involving tribes more into the wildlife conservation process. Sireesh.

As we know, a big hurdle for wildlife conservation in India is the population of tribal peoples in the sanctuaries. They can be a very strong ally in the conservation process, as their knowledge of their forests is seldom surpassed, and it is very dangerous to risk letting them side with poachers. As known, they want a secure existence, within the confines of the lands that they have lived upon since a very many years. We might have some amount of success in relocating them to rural settlements if we tried, but it would be a tedious process, involving opposition from human rights groups (not wrong in their claims either) and also in the logistics of the whole issue. On the contrary if we can make them our allies in the process of conservation, the wildlife of India will have a better chance of survival. They have lived there for centuries at the least, as a people, and have developed a distinct way of being, so wondrous when seen in contrast with the remaining populace of the earth. If we can safeguard the culture of these peoples, it will go a long way to help retain heritage and cultural values. Now the question is to devise a way to make it feasible to have the tribal peoples in the forests, without having an effect on the ecology of the place. They have lived so for centuries, in perfect harmony, and if there is a conflict of interests between them and their lands, it is because of the advent of modern civilization. Newer ways, newer needs, plastic, increased populations all contribute to it. What I have thought of is this. Why not devise a way to bring them back to their roots, decontaminate them from the polluted ways of outside life, while giving them the benefits of modernity like clean water, and food. They will be a lot less stressed, compared to when they suddenly move to a modern society with ways so different, and when blending in might be difficult. No tourists should be allowed to carry contaminants like plastic into the forests, so they can have their pristine forests, and improve general health among them too ( what with the increased infections among the tribal people in the last few years , most probably due to outside contamination). Let tourists have a taste of the tribals life too, in the original way of the tribals. These way financial burdens can be evenly distributed too, and the money can be used to help them have cleaner water, and a better life.

After all, when they are happy in their forests, and they know a major source of tourist income ( which now reaches them too) comes form the wildlife inhabiting the forests, they wont find a need to side with the wrong side, for they will have a better life and no need to do it.