Fortress conservation versus traditional forest management: the example of Soliga tribal people from the Western Ghats, India

Wildlife conservation is typically achieved by excluding, evacuating or alienating the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs). This fortress conservation approach has led to uprooting, ongoing distress and despondency among many IPLCs worldwide. However, in the expansive and deep forests of the Western Ghats, India, the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary (BRTWS) offers a prime conservation exemplar where tribal (Adivasi) people, the Soligas, have been living with wild animals, especially tigers, leopards, elephants and managing forest resources for millennia. We provide an integrated ecological, socio-cultural and policy analysis of Soligas living in the Biligiri landscape, applying Ostrom’s socio-ecological framework. We highlight the need to understand and recognise the importance of Adivasi people’s connections, knowledge and skills in forest management. Comparing traditional and contemporary conservation approaches, we identify the need for collective action and collaboration between State authorities and Soliga communities to effectively manage forest resources, including emerging threats (e.g. pernicious weeds, pests, wildfires). Involving tribal people with the knowledge and skills to manage their natural systems can offer a win–win situation for supporting people’s well-being and for governments to reduce management costs and protect wildlife in Protected Areas. The BRTWS example demonstrates the cost-effective practical advantages of a collaborative, community-based conservation approach for meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring the delivery of ecosystem services for local communities and wider society.