By Lucas Kasosi (CS Intern, Maasai)
On March 3, as the world observes World Wildlife Day, many will celebrate the achievements of conservation, the protection of endangered species, and the stewardship of ecosystems. Yet, for Indigenous communities, the reality of conservation often tells a different story, one of displacement, exclusion, and ongoing struggles for land and rights.
Across the globe, Indigenous Peoples have successfully coexisted with wildlife for generations, practicing sustainable land management and passing down Traditional Ecological Knowledge that has maintained biodiversity long before modern conservation models were introduced. Today, much of the world’s remaining biodiversity exists on Indigenous-managed lands, a testament to their deep relationship with the natural world. Yet, in the name of conservation, many of these same communities have been forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, criminalized for their traditional practices, and stripped of their rights.
This contradiction raises a fundamental question: If Indigenous Peoples are the most effective stewards of the environment, why are they being pushed out of conservation efforts rather than being placed at the center of them?
A Legacy of Displacement in the Name of Conservation
Conservation, as it is practiced today, has roots in colonial-era policies that treated nature as a resource to be controlled and managed, often for the benefit of hunting, tourism, and resource extraction rather than for the protection of ecosystems. The establishment of national parks and game reserves in many parts of the world came at a devastating cost to Indigenous communities, who were forcibly removed from their lands under the justification that human presence was incompatible with wildlife conservation.
A Maasai community in Tanzania during a recent eviction in Ngorongoro to pave the way for elite tourism and Trophy hunting that will raise revenue for the government. Image Courtesy of Tobiko Lenjir.
For example, in East Africa, the Maasai have long been recognized as natural conservationists, maintaining grazing patterns that support both livestock and local wildlife. However, when Amboseli National Park and Maasai Mara were established, Maasai communities were pushed off their ancestral lands and excluded from conservation decisions, even as their lands continued to sustain biodiversity. Today, conservation organizations and governments profit from wildlife tourism, while Maasai communities face restrictions on land use, eviction threats, and lack of access to natural resources.
Similar stories can be found worldwide. In the Amazon, Indigenous groups such as the Kayapo Peoples in Brazil have successfully protected millions of hectares of rainforest, preventing illegal logging and mining. Yet, despite their success, they face constant pressure from external interests, and conservation efforts often fail to recognize their land rights.
In India, the Bishnoi community has upheld a strict conservation ethic for over 500 years, with religious teachings that emphasize the protection of all living beings. Their villages have become safe havens for species such as the blackbuck antelope, which would likely be extinct without their stewardship. Despite this, modern conservation policies often fail to integrate Indigenous Knowledge into national strategies.
This pattern of exclusion is not accidental. It results from a global conservation model that has historically prioritized profit, control, and external decision-making over Indigenous land rights and self-determination.
Indigenous Leadership in Conservation: A Model That Works
Despite these challenges, Indigenous communities continue to lead some of the most effective and sustainable conservation efforts in the world. Their knowledge of wildlife migration patterns, seasonal changes, and ecosystem balance allows them to develop strategies that are adaptive, community-driven, and deeply rooted in cultural values.
In Tanzania, the Maasai have transformed their relationship with lions through the Lion Guardians Program, which replaces traditional lion hunting practices with tracking, monitoring, and protection. Young Maasai warriors, once tasked with proving their bravery through hunting, now serve as lion guardians, preventing human-wildlife conflict while ensuring the survival of the species.
A picture of a pangolin. Photograph by Fabian Von Poser.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Indigenous groups have taken on the protection of pangolins, one of the world’s most trafficked mammals. Pangolins, known for their distinctive scales, have historically been protected in Indigenous cultures due to their symbolic significance. Today, conservation organizations are collaborating with Indigenous communities to monitor pangolin populations, prevent poaching, and educate local communities on sustainable alternatives.
In Thailand, the Karen Peoples have emerged as protectors of gibbons, a species highly vulnerable to deforestation. The Karen have worked to restore forest habitats and implement reforestation programs, ensuring that gibbons have access to fruit-bearing trees necessary for their survival.
The effectiveness of these Indigenous-led conservation efforts demonstrates that protecting biodiversity does not require the removal of Indigenous communities it requires their leadership.
Conservation Must Recognize Indigenous Rights
As the theme of this year’s World Wildlife Day highlights the importance of financing conservation efforts, it is critical to recognize that funding must not only support wildlife protection but also ensure the recognition of Indigenous land rights and self-determination. Conservation finance must be redirected to support Indigenous-led initiatives, ensuring that communities have the resources, autonomy, and recognition they need to continue their work.
Too often, conservation funds flow into large international organizations while Indigenous communities receive little to no financial support, despite being the ones actively protecting ecosystems. This imbalance must change. Governments, conservation organizations, and international donors must invest directly in Indigenous conservation efforts, ensuring that resources are distributed fairly and that Indigenous knowledge is not only acknowledged but actively integrated into conservation policies.
Additionally, legal protections for Indigenous land rights must be strengthened and enforced. Many Indigenous communities face ongoing threats of eviction, criminalization, and violence simply for protecting their territories. Recognizing Indigenous land tenure and securing legal protections is not only a human rights issue. It is a critical step in ensuring the long-term survival of the planet’s most biodiverse regions.
A Call for Change
The future of conservation cannot be built on displacement, exclusion, and top-down policies. It must be founded on collaboration, respect, and recognition of Indigenous leadership.
As the world celebrates World Wildlife Day, it is time to rethink what conservation truly means. Protecting wildlife should never come at the cost of Indigenous lives and cultures. Conservation must evolve into a model that values people and nature equally, recognizing that the two have always been interconnected.
The greatest hope for protecting biodiversity lies not in fences, restrictions, or outside control but in the knowledge, resilience, and stewardship of the world’s Indigenous Peoples. It is time to act, listen, support, and ensure that conservation is no longer a tool of displacement but a movement that truly serves both people and the planet.
Top Photo: Indigenous communities protect and coexist with wildlife, demonstrating sustainable conservation practices.] Photograph: Guiziou Franck/Hemis/Alamy
