Jenu Kurubas from Karnataka take conservation fight to global forum in Kenya

…“ In the name of conservation, the Adivasi community is being subjected to violence and false cases, and our homes are being destroyed. Big NGOs and companies, in the name of carbon credits and conservation, want to occupy our land and promote tourism and other commercial activities. This is the story of many communities like ours across the world ,” said Shivu J.A. Mr. Shivu, 31, from the Jenu Kuruba community in the Nagarahole forest between Kodagu and Mysuru districts in Karnataka, was among the indigenous representatives from 16 countries across Africa, Asia…

…reserves?” he asked. Thimma J.K., 56, a leader of the community, said the event provided an opportunity to interact with similar communities from across the world and realise that they all faced comparable challenges. “ The lack of consultation is common everywhere. NGOs’ interference has to be stopped. For us, the forests are our thayi naadu (motherland) and the animals our manetana devaru (family deities). We are conserving the forests, so why is there a third person involved? This is not the government’s land either ,” he said. Published - September 25, 2026 08:07 pm IST…