Most conservation effort focuses on animals and their habitats, and often ignores the voices of people living in these landscapes. Almost all the essays in this issue revolve around the inhabitants of lands of conservation concern—their problems, and solutions they want or practice to deal with pressures like climate change and conflict. Before solutions can be implemented one needs to understand their practices and use of resources, argues Anirban Datta-Roy, in a detailed examination of hunting practices of the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. Tenzing Ingty tells us that communities in wild landscapes, like the Dokpa and Lachenpa of Sikkim who use the traditional ecological knowledge gathered over generations to cope with climate change, can often assess change and threats better than scientists.
Most of the articles in this issue can be categorised into either the Eastern Himalayas or the Western Ghats, two biodiversity hotspots in India that have been in the news for a variety of reasons, says special issue editor Siddhartha Krishnan. In his essay he weaves the studies showcased into a narrative on conservation issues in these two spatial units. He goes beyond this to touch on the philosophies of the nations involved—Norway and India—both with socialist bents, and a desire to
balance environment and development.
Editor’s Note: R.Nandhini