MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION

Knowledge without power, and power bereft of knowledge. This, in sum, is the story of mismanagement of wildlife and protected forests in India. Wildlife researchers say the forest bureaucracy is untouched by scientific understanding. Wildlife officials argue that the scientific community is perched on a high pedestal, removed from ground realities. In the crossfire, forest-dwelling communities, who can spearhead conservation efforts, are unnecessarily thrown out of their homes in the name of conservation. No scientific analysis is done on the impact of their presence in the forest. Result: the spectacular ecological wealth of the country is fast-disappearing, and poor people are being blamed for the incompetence right at the top. Just why isn't wildlife management in India based on good science? Down To Earth finds out