Soliga Tribe: History, Habitat, Culture, Forest Rights

The Soliga (Solega) tribe is an indigenous tribal community primarily associated with the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.

The Soligas have traditionally depended on forests for food, minor forest produce, medicinal plants and other livelihood needs.

They have a close cultural and ecological relationship with the forests of the Biligirirangana Hills.

The Soligas were among the first tribal communities in India to receive Community Forest Rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 in the BRT landscape.

Key Pointers

  • Major state: Karnataka

  • Important landscape: BRT Tiger Reserve

  • Traditional forest-dependent community.

  • Important for Forest Rights Act, 2006.

  • Knowledge of medicinal plants and forest biodiversity.

  • Conservation example involving indigenous ecological knowledge.