Populism and Environmentalism in the Western Ghats of Kerala

Environmentalists’ interventions have been instrumental in forming policies for a sustainable world. However, they are being criticized for transferring the responsibility of environmental conservation only to the rural population that is yet to find a stable livelihood. Buffer Zone, a recent conservation policy, thus becomes contested by the people residing in such proposed zones. The conservation-development debate needs to incorporate the concerns of the people affected by new policies and ensure their right to a dignified life.