Claim: Images circulating on social media purport to show a barren land and a lush green forest in Manipur, with blame directed at the Kuki community for the deforestation.
Truth Uncovered: These images are actually from Brazil and have no connection to Manipur or the Kuki community.
They depict the transformation of a barren landscape into a vibrant forest in the Minas Gerais region, accomplished by the efforts of photojournalist Sebastião Ribeiro Salgado and his wife Lélia.
Our Investigation: By conducting a reverse image search, we traced the images to a report by the British tabloid Metro dated May 4, 2019.
This report featured the same images, attributing them to Salgado's reforestation project.
Additionally, a Forbes article from January 25, 2008, documented Instituto Terra's Reforestation Project, highlighting the progress made over eight years.
Further validation came from a June 2019 report by the Daily Mail, which detailed Salgado and his wife's initiative to restore the tropical forest devastated by deforestation.
Conclusion: The images falsely attributed to Manipur are actually from Brazil, showcasing a successful reforestation effort.
This misinformation only serves to exacerbate tensions between communities in Manipur, particularly during a period of ethnic violence.
It is crucial to verify the authenticity of images and information before attributing blame or perpetuating hostility.
