Modern Human-Wildlife Co-Management

Context

The management of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) has moved from eradication to co-existence through co-management; recognising that HWC is expected where landscapes are shared. Scientific, social and ecological sustainability are key components of modern, effective HWC strategies. 

Core Components of Modern HWC Management

1. Scientifically Informed Strategies (Evidence-Based)

Modern management is based on information and not on blind, ineffective and deadly control. 

• Technology & Monitoring: Deploying cameras with AI capabilities, drone surveillance and radio collars for tracking wildlife movements, e.g. in Wayanad Conflict Mitigation Project and Coimbatore Forest Division. 
• Preventative non-lethal barriers: erecting chili fences, solar fences and steel wire ropes to scare off elephants and other animals. 
• Predictive Modeling: Applying habitat mapping with GIS to locate high-risk areas.

2. Socially Just Strategies (Community-Centric)

These strategies take into account that the expenses of conservation are not all on the local community. 

• CBDRM: Engaging local people as active partners, rather than passive recipients (e.g. Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area). 
• Rapid Compensation Systems: Economic compensation for lost crops, livestock and human life that is timely, easily accessible and equitable is essential to ensure trust and is part of India’s National HWC Mitigation Strategy. 
• Education & Livelihood Support: Awareness creation on wildlife behaviour, including Prakritishala (nature interpretation centres). 

3. Ecologically Sustainable Strategies (System-Oriented)

These are aimed at reducing the pressures which lead to conflict by maintaining ecosystem integrity. 

• Ensuring Habitat Connectivity: Protecting and restoring wildlife movement corridors to minimize the need for wildlife to move into human habitat.
• Integrated Land Use Planning – Avoidance of critical habitats in agricultural expansion and infrastructure development. 

Sustainable Mitigation Techniques

• Proactive Fencing & Deterrents: Community managed electric fencing and quick response teams to safeguard crops.
• Landscape-Level Planning: (Agricultural planning and the creation of ecological corridors) to avoid conflict driven by land-use changes.
• Shared Responsibility: Distribution of the resources and labour of mitigation between governments, NGOs and local stakeholders.

Policy and Governance

• Integrated Policy Frameworks: Formulating national policies as a multi-sectoral problem (agricultural, infrastructure and environmental) instead of a law-and-order issue involving HWC. 
• Coexistence-Based Legislation: Changing the nature of wildlife legislation to shift emphasis from only punitive measures to habitat management and species protection, to allow for coexistence.

Source: The Hindu

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