By Bharat Lal, Former Secretary General, NHRC
From sacred groves and traditional water systems to tribal customs centred around forests and wildlife, how do you see this relationship evolving in modern India?
India’s relationship with nature has traditionally been one of reverence and coexistence, not merely resource use. Rural and tribal communities have safeguarded sacred groves, traditional water systems and wildlife through practices refined over generations. Today, urbanisation and migration are weakening some of these bonds. Our task is to bring traditional ecological wisdom together with modern science and policy. We need to move from a purely top-down approach to community-led stewardship. Development must strengthen, not sever, our relationship with nature. Jan Bhagidari – people’s participation is the hallmark of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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What are some of the lesser-known aspects of India’s biodiversity that deserve far greater public attention, and why is documenting them important?
India’s biodiversity extends far beyond its iconic tigers, Asiatic lions, elephants and rhinos. Grasslands, scrublands, wetlands, mangroves, pollinators and soil organisms are equally vital, yet often overlooked. Our open natural ecosystems support rare species such as the Great Indian Bustard, Jerdon’s Courser and Lesser Florican, but are still too often labelled ‘wastelands’. That perception must change. Documentation builds awareness, guides policy and helps identify threats. What we fail to recognise, we are unlikely to protect; what we undervalue, we risk losing.
What can modern conservation policy learn from traditional knowledge of tribal communities and their understanding of nature?
Traditional knowledge teaches us three enduring lessons: coexistence, restraint and stewardship. Many tribal communities see themselves as part of nature, not its owners. Their knowledge — built through generations of close observation — can strengthen biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and sustainable resource management. It should complement scientific evidence and inform policy. India’s core-and-buffer approach in national parks and tiger reserves also recognises the need to balance wildlife protection with community use in buffer areas. Conservation succeeds when local communities are partners, not bystanders.
Is it possible to pursue rapid economic development without compromising the ecological heritage that future generations will inherit?
Yes. Economic growth and conservation are not opposing goals; healthy ecosystems underpin water security, livelihoods and climate resilience. Our growing populations of tigers, Asiatic lions, one-horned rhinoceroses and Asian elephants offer important lessons. As advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’ must mean that on the ground, progress today does not diminish the inheritance of tomorrow. True development creates prosperity while keeping nature alive.
Should India focus not merely on protecting individual species, but on preserving entire ecological and cultural landscapes?
Absolutely. Species cannot survive without healthy habitats. Project Tiger and Gir national park and sanctuary to protect Asiatic lions, demonstrates the value of a landscape approach: protecting a tiger’s habitat also safeguards forests, grasslands, rivers, wetlands, prey species and countless other forms of life. In Gujarat, we expanded the habitat of Asiatic lions by this approach. These landscapes are also home to communities whose livelihoods, knowledge and traditions are closely linked to nature. Protecting a landscape therefore preserves both ecological processes and cultural heritage. We must protect not just individual species, but the homes and relationships that sustain them.
How can India preserve intangible cultural heritage with an ecological dimension without reducing it to a museum piece or commercial product?
Intangible heritage survives when it remains part of everyday life. Sacred groves, folk traditions, festivals, indigenous architecture and community rituals carry ecological wisdom that must be practised and passed on — not merely displayed. Communities should remain the principal custodians, supported by education, documentation and respectful livelihood opportunities. With the support of the government, a Delhi-based non-profit organization namely Sankala Foundation is regularly organizing tribal and other forest dwellers art exhibition under the theme ‘Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre’ showcasing conservation ethos of these communities.
From your experience as a writer and administrator, what have you learnt about storytelling’s power to change attitudes towards forests, wildlife and tribal cultures?
Facts inform; stories inspire people to care. Stories turn a forest from a tract of land into a living ecosystem and help us see communities not through stereotypes but through their ethos, knowledge, dignity and resilience. India takes great pride in its forts, palaces and monuments, yet public awareness of our natural heritage remains far weaker. Storytelling can bridge that gap and bring conservation into people’s hearts. Lasting protection requires laws and institutions, but it also requires people to feel that nature is part of their own story. I have seen many civil society organizations organizing such story telling festivals especially directed towards younger generations.
Do conservation and tourism policies adequately reflect the uniqueness of India’s ecological and cultural regions?
Both yes and no. India has made progress, but a country of such ecological and cultural diversity cannot be served by a one-size-fits-all policy. The needs of the Himalayas differ from those of grasslands, deserts, islands, mangroves and the Western Ghats. Policies must be designed for local realities, with communities involved from the outset. Nor should policies be treated as permanent: regular evaluation and thoughtful revision help us learn what works, correct what does not, and achieve better outcomes. In this endevour, various state and local self-governments as well as local communities must play a key role.
India is a continuous 5,000-year-old living civilisation. How can our tourism strategies reflect this ‘living continuum’?
Culture is a country’s soul and in India tourism offers a chance to experience and internalise that soul. People from across the world come to India for soul-searching and to discover their true self. These visits to India have been transformative for many, including modern icons like Beatles, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. Indian tourism also offers an opportunity to see and experience diversity – language, culture, cuisine, apparels, customs, traditions – and much more.
The key is to shift the focus of tourism from a mere leisure activity to an exploration of our 5,000 years old rich civilisational identity. We can adopt more sustainable approaches, integrate heritage preservation into visitors’ experiences. As birthplace of yoga, Ayurveda, India can become the centre of holistic wellness. People can come to India to ‘heal’ themselves.
How can eco-tourism, tribal tourism and heritage tourism create local livelihoods without turning fragile ecosystems and indigenous cultures into commodities?
Tourism must respect ecological carrying capacity and cultural dignity. Local people should be owners, guides, entrepreneurs and custodians — not merely attractions for visitors. The measure of success is not footfall alone; it is whether tourism strengthens livelihoods, conservation and cultural pride of local communities. Done responsibly, tourism can make heritage a source of sustainable prosperity rather than a casualty of commercialisation.
Which natural and cultural legacies must India preserve over the next 25 years, and what changes in governance, education and public participation are needed?
Ans: Every region’s natural and cultural heritage has its own value; the priority is to document and sustain the lived experiences, practices and traditions that give them meaning. Our forests, rivers, wetlands, grasslands, coasts and mountains matter as much as our monuments, languages, crafts, sacred groves and indigenous knowledge. This calls for joined-up governance, landscape-based planning, ecological literacy from an early age, and active community participation. Technology should assist preservation, not dictate it. A developed India must be economically strong, ecologically secure and culturally rooted — and pass that inheritance on with pride.
The true measure of progress will not be the wealth we create alone, but the natural ecosystems, cultural traditions, and collective wisdom we pass on to future generations. A developed India must also be an India that remains ecologically secure, culturally rooted, and proud of its civilizationalheritage.
(Author is a former Indian Forest Service officer, who also was Founder Mission Director of the National Jal Jeevan Mission – Clean tap water to every home in rural India)
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