Policy Recommendations for Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation in Uttarakhand Himalayan Regions: an Agricultural Scenario

Jaya Rai, Prem Kumar, Shweta, Sarad Yadav, Arbind K. Thakur, Harshulika

Animal Invasion, Crop Loss, Human Wildlife Conflict, Livelihood, Policy

In hilly terrain, human-wildlife conflict (HWC) has become a significant problem due to wild animals raiding the crops. India being an agricultural economy, human wildlife conflict poses serious hardships on the livelihoods of the population as the majority part relies on agriculture for sustenance. This paper is an attempt to highlight the nature of human wildlife conflict encountered by the residents of Uttarakhand, their response and suggest mitigation measures to protect crops from HWC in the study area. Besides, this also includes a policy recommendation for the state of Uttarakhand inculcating the comparative scenario with other Himalayan states. The human wildlife conflict can be attributed to negative interaction between the two as a consequence of shared common resources. On the human side, the consequences may lie in form of possible financial losses, such as loss of property, crops, livestock, and human life, hence reducing the farmers' physical and mental well-being and causing them to suffer. While, the biodiversity suffers heavy loss in form of indiscriminate killing of the animals. The Indigenous farmers in Uttarakhand produce a wide range of crops ranging from paddy to tomato. Therefore, safeguarding these crops against animal menace is crucial for enhancing the farmers' livelihood and economy. Several traditional methods, although with limited success, have been adopted to protect the crops from animal raids. However, nowadays modern techniques such as solar fencing and installation of acoustic devices are also being implemented in coupling with the traditional methods to improvise the mitigation strategies against the HWC.

https://dx.doi.org/10.31873/IJEAS.12.07.05