`The Australian government is amending laws to push Adani's coal mine project'

The Adani Group's US$ 16.5 billion Carmichael coal mine project in Queensland is mired in a controversy as it not only threatens the Great …

Apologies for yesterday’s crimes: Spain and its Conquistadors

Mexico recently asked Spain to apologise for Hernan Cortes’ Conquista. Are apologies to the native peoples of the Western Hemisphere overdue?

The fall of the Aztecs: What lessons does it offer 500 years down the line

Down To Earth talks to historian Camilla Townsend about what the Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs means, especially to indigenous people in Mexico …

Why the WWF’s ‘Fortress Conservation’ model is ethically wrong

As India gets ready for the July 24 Supreme Court verdict on possible eviction of its forest-dwelling communities in response to conservationists&…

Debate over domiciles

The announcement of a domicile policy by the Jharkhand government has triggered protests, and a debate on how to define natives of the land

Water in forests: Finding the blue in the greens

It is time we rediscover forests as a ‘water commons’ to aid India’s fight against climate change

Fortress Conservation: Tension in Tanzania’s Loliondo as troops move in to evict Maasai to make way for game reserve

The game reserve, once it materialises, will reportedly be used by the UAE royal family  

IN PHOTOS: Dev gudis of Bastar get a new lease of life

Across India, sacred groves are known by many names. In Jharkhand, they are generally called sarnas; in Chhattisgarh, dev gudis, which means the …

Why the move to foist a GI tag on Mandu’s baobab tree is a no-brainer

Commerce ministry’s drive to push up the Geographical Indications tally is a lazy exercise that does not benefit local communities

New evidence emerges on how Mayas fortified maize, built indoor toilets

Scientists find maize starch spherulites , a unique byproduct of nixtamalisation, as well as tapeworms at a Maya archaeological site

How Ukraine invasion will hit Russia’s marginalised: An indigenous activist explains

Down To Earth talks to Pavel Sulyandziga, an indigenous activist about what is happening in Russia, especially to its indigenous and marginalised …

People on Vanuatu’s Malekula Island speak more than 30 indigenous languages. Here’s why we must record them

Vanuatu has been described as the world’s “densest linguistic landscape”, with as many as 145 languages spoken by a population …

‘Las Casas’ defence of indigenous rights has left a deep mark on Pope Francis’

Down To Earth speaks to Carmody Grey, assistant professor of Catholic theology in the department of theology and religion, Durham University, UK, …

Major victory for indigenous groups in Ecuadorian Amazon

Chinese company pulls out of contract to drill for oil in remote rainforest after protests by indigenous groups

‘Indigenous people have been effective stewards of biodiversity globally’

Down To Earth speaks to University of Connecticut professor Prakash Kashwan about his book, Democracy in the Woods

Indigenous peoples globally being ‘criminalised’ for defending their rights

Physical violence as well as legal prosecution is used to label defenders as ‘criminals’ and the process is becoming widespread, says …

Come together, non-profit tells international community, as Bolsonaro takes charge

Amazon Watch adds voice to Brazil’s national indigenous movement that is mounting resistance to the far-right politician

Targeting of indigenous people fighting for forest rights in India is a fact, say experts

As a new report reveals a rise in the number of indigenous activists being killed for defending forest and land rights worldwide, Down To Earth …

Adani to fully finance controversial Oz Carmichael mine

The move follows last month’s announcement by the conglomerate that it was scaling back the size and scope of the project. The project had …

Remains of Empire: Trinity College to return spears taken by James Cook from Australian Aboriginal Nation

The spears were taken in 1770 from the Gweagal clan that inhabited the south shore of Botany Bay, Sydney

500-year-old horn container discovered in South Africa sheds light on pre-colonial Khoisan medicines

For the Khoi and San people, not all medicines were meant to treat physiological illnesses. Healers were specialised individuals whose task was …

Can Montreal help communities: COP15 negotiators have their work cut out; here is how   

Developed countries are expected to oppose their developing counterparts; but change is imperative  

Our Coal, Our Right: Here is why these Chhattisgarh tribals stage a ‘coal satyagraha’ every October 2

Tribals from four blocks collect and auction coal on Gandhi Jayanti annually, in defiance of government rules

African court orders Kenya to pay $1.3 million as reparations to indigenous Ogiek people

The government will also formally recognise the Ogiek, one of the most marginalised groups, as an indigenous people of Kenya

COVID-19 warriors: How Assam’s Mishings brought agroforestry back into practice

A village in Assam escapes unemployment and food scarcity by reviving an ancient food forestry practice