Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Kerala to blend tribal knowledge into forest conservation efforts
The Kerala government wants to work together with tribal people who have lived near forests for many years.
These communities know the forest very well, like which animals live there and how to stay safe.
The minister, Shibu Baby John, says this knowledge should be used to protect nature and reduce fights between people and wild animals.
The government also wants to give tribal people more jobs and a bigger share of money made from tourism.
They plan to spend a lot of money to build eco-tourism in Kumily and fix up the Tiger Museum there.
Some tribal leaders are now part of the big Wildlife Board that makes decisions about forests, which has never happened before.
Many tribal people have already gotten jobs through Eco-Development Committees in Thekkady.
The government also wants to fix problems in tribal villages, like drinking water and bad roads.
The minister says tribal people's needs are their rights, not charity.
Kerala's Forest and Wildlife Minister Shibu Baby John said tribal communities' traditional knowledge will be documented and used to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and improve conservation.
The government will submit a Rs 50 crore proposal to the Centre for eco-tourism development in Kumily, including Rs 20 crore for restoring the stalled Tiger Museum.
For the first time, tribal representatives Raman Raja Mannan and Vinod of the Cholanaickan community have been included in the Wildlife Board headed by the Chief Minister.
Eco-Development Committees at Thekkady have given around 200 people temporary employment and 43 people permanent jobs as watchers.
Mannan settlements in the area have 1,266 people from 357 families, while Paliyan settlements have 450 people from 164 families.
The minister said the government will address drinking water shortages, damaged roads, and inadequate street lighting in tribal settlements.
- Who
- Kerala Forest and Wildlife Minister Shibu Baby John, Mannan and Paliyan tribal communities, and tribal board members Raman Raja Mannan and Vinod
- What
- Kerala will document and incorporate tribal traditional knowledge into forest conservation and eco-tourism, submit a Rs 50 crore eco-tourism proposal, and expand tribal participation in forest policy
- When
- During the minister's interaction with residents as part of the Forest Department's 'Oorunarvu' outreach programme (recent period)
- Where
- Kerala, specifically Thekkady and Kumily, near the Periyar Tiger Reserve
- Why
- To mitigate human-wildlife conflict, preserve disappearing traditional knowledge, and ensure tribal communities receive a larger share of economic benefits from tourism
- Eco-tourism proposal amount
- Rs 50 crore to the Centre for development in Kumily
- Tiger Museum restoration allocation
- Rs 20 crore
- Mannan settlement population
- 1,266 people from 357 families
- Paliyan settlement population
- 450 people from 164 families
- Jobs created via Eco-Development Committees
- Around 200 temporary jobs and 43 permanent watcher jobs
- New tribal representatives on Wildlife Board
- Raman Raja Mannan (Mannan community) and Vinod (Cholanaickan community)
- Mannan community relocation period
- 1930s and 1940s, from interior areas of Periyar Tiger Reserve
- Paliyan traditional occupations
- Honey collection, fishing, and pepper cultivation