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Picture Courtesy:  THE HINDU

Context

The Kerala Forest Department launched a 45-day intensive mitigation programme, to address human-wildlife conflict (HWC) across the state.

What is Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC)?

It refers to negative interactions between humans and wildlife that result in harm to either party.

It occurs when wildlife poses direct threats to human life, livelihoods, or property, prompting retaliatory actions that endanger wildlife populations or habitats.

These conflicts arise in overlapping human-wildlife areas, driven by habitat encroachment and resource competition.

Reasons Behind Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC)

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion shrink forests, forcing animals into human areas; 35% of India's tiger ranges lie outside protected areas. (Source: WWF and UNEP)

Population Growth: Rising human and wildlife populations increase competition for resources like water and food.

Human Encroachment: Infrastructure like roads, dams, and settlements disrupts corridors.

Climate Change: Altered patterns affect food/water availability, pushing wildlife into settlements; rising sea levels displace tigers in coastal areas (eg. Sundarbans).

Poaching and Illegal Activities: Weak enforcement exacerbates imbalances in ecosystems, leading to aggressive animal behavior.

Food Scarcity: Overgrazing, monoculture farming, and invasive species (e.g., Senna spectabilis) deplete prey, leading to crop raiding by elephants and wild boars.

Lack of Awareness and Preparedness: Inadequate education and early warning systems in rural areas heighten risks.

Impact of HWC in India

Human Toll: Loss of lives/injuries (e.g., 2,361 human deaths from elephant conflicts, 2014-19); crop/livestock damage affects farmers' livelihoods.

Economic Losses: Governments spend on compensation; infrastructure (roads, power lines) faces repeated damage.

Wildlife and Biodiversity: Retaliatory killings threaten species extinction, disrupting ecosystems and predator-prey balance.

Social and Psychological: Tension in communities leads to negative conservation perceptions.

Broader Implications: Undermines sustainable development by linking to SDGs on biodiversity, food security, and poverty.

Kerala’s New Mitigation Campaign

Kerala, the first state to classify HWC as a state-specific disaster under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, launched a three-phase campaign to enhance relief, coordination, and prevention.

Phase 1: Data Collection

• Help desks and complaint boxes at forest range and panchayat offices in fringe areas.
• Teams collect complaints on crop loss, delayed compensation, and safety threats; complainants informed of actions within 15 days.
• Appeals to regional campaign committees for unresolved issues.

Phase 2: District-Level Resolution

• Escalation to district committees led by Collectors, including MLAs and officials; Divisional Forest Officers as conveners.

Phase 3: State-Level Interventions

• Persistent issues addressed by state government with ministers, MLAs, and panchayat reps; unresolved matters escalated to Centre for assistance.

Steps Taken by the Indian Government

National strategy: The National Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan (HWC-NAP) provides a framework for addressing HWC in a sustainable and inclusive manner.

Advisories: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issues regular advisories to states on managing conflict, with species-specific guidelines for elephants, leopards, and others.

Legal amendments: The Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 was amended to include provisions for punishing violators and to address HWC situations.

Compensation Schemes: Enhanced payouts under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; ₹10 lakh for human deaths, quick disbursal via digital platforms.

Elephant Intrusion Detection System (EIDS): This AI-based surveillance is used to detect elephant movements along railway tracks, helping to prevent train accidents. 

Technology Adoption: AI-based monitoring (e.g., Wildlife Crime Control Bureau's apps) and radio-collaring of elephants. In Kerala, the 'Ele-fence' uses AI and night-vision cameras to detect elephants.

Challenges in Addressing HWC

Environmental and resource challenges

• Habitat loss and fragmentation: Urbanization, agriculture, and infrastructure projects are encroaching on and breaking up forest land, forcing wildlife into human settlements.
• Climate change impacts: Altered weather patterns and increased droughts impact food and water sources within forests, pushing animals to seek resources elsewhere.
• Invasive species: The spread of plants like Senna spectabilis destroy natural ecosystems and deplete food sources, increasing competition with animals for resources. 

Administrative and policy challenges

• Reactive approach: Many government policies focus on mitigating conflicts after they occur rather than proactively preventing them. .
• Implementation gaps: Despite comprehensive policies like the National HWC Mitigation Strategy, enforcement is hampered by insufficient data and a lack of awareness among officials.
• Insufficient data: A lack of a nationwide, centralized database on HWC incidents leads to "one-size-fits-all" solutions rather than localized, context-specific strategies. 

Financial and technical challenges

• Inadequate compensation: Compensation for crop and livestock damage is often insufficient, delayed, and involves significant bureaucratic hurdles for rural victims.
• Limited technology adoption: Despite the existence of advanced tools like AI-based early warning systems, high costs, poor connectivity, and maintenance issues limit their widespread use. 

Community and social challenges

• Lack of participation: Top-down conservation strategies often fail to involve local communities effectively, leading to mistrust and less effective mitigation measures.
• Fear and retaliation: Fear and anxiety from living near dangerous wildlife result in retaliatory killings and undermine conservation efforts.
• Limited alternatives for livelihoods: Many communities living near forests have few options beyond agriculture and livestock, making them economically vulnerable to wildlife encounters. 

Way Forward

Empower Gram Panchayats: Decentralize authority by empowering local governing bodies to manage HWC according to the Wild Life (Protection) Act.

Address drivers of conflict: Create inter-departmental committees and identify HWC hotspots to formulate and implement special proactive plans.

Boost economic resilience: Promote sustainable alternative livelihood options, such as ecotourism, to reduce dependence on forest resources and mitigate economic losses from HWC.

Prioritize a 'One Health' approach: Integrate the consideration of animal, human, and environmental health in HWC mitigation strategies, especially when dealing with potential zoonotic disease threats. 

Community-Centric Approaches: Empower locals through insurance, skill training, and profit-sharing in conservation projects.

Technological Integration: Scale up AI, GIS mapping, and non-invasive deterrents like sound barriers.

Policy Reforms: Amend Wildlife Act for faster clearances on mitigation infrastructure; enforce eco-sensitive zones strictly.

Research and Monitoring: Establish a national HWC database for data-driven interventions.

International Collaboration: Learn from UNEP's global HWC toolkit; foster cross-border agreements with neighbors like Nepal and Bangladesh.

Conclusion

Human-wildlife conflict can be transformed into coexistence by integrating technology, policy, and community efforts, securing both biodiversity and sustainable rural livelihoods.

Source: THE HINDU