In view of rising incidents of human-animal conflict, a new draft national forest policy has proposed a host of measures including taking up habitat enrichment, provision of adequate compensation for people affected by wildlife and establishment of rescue centres to treat animals to manage the problem.
The draft National Forest Policy 2016, put up by the Environment Ministry, notes that the country’s wildlife is facing a threat and wild species are being altered by increasing anthropogenic pressures, rising human-animal conflicts, illegal trade in wild species and climate change.
The draft document, once ratified, will replace the National Forest Policy, 1988.
Even as the debate rages on whether culling of wild animals help mitigate the human-animal conflict, the draft, under its section ‘Strengthening wildlife management’, has stressed that there is an “urgent” need to renew efforts to safeguard wildlife and secure their habitats.
“Manage and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts by taking up habitat enrichment. Provide adequate and timely compensation in case of injury or loss of human life, property, crop damage or livestock casualties.
“To manage problem animals, establish rescue centres and develop a team of well-equipped and trained personnel,” the draft policy states.
It has also proposed management of protected areas and other wildlife rich areas and corridors with the primary objective of biodiversity conservation, while enhancing other ecosystem services.
“Voluntary and attractive relocation packages of villages from within national parks, other wildlife rich areas and corridors should be developed. Such areas should be effectively secured by strengthening enforcement, restoring habitats and establishing ecological corridors,” it said.
The recent decision of the Environment Ministry to allow some states to cull wild animals has started a debate with the green bodies expressing “shock” over the Ministry’s decision and asserting that culling would not help mitigate human-animal conflict.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi had also locked horns over the issue with the latter saying that there was “lust” for killing in the Environment Ministry and the former defending by noting that animal culling is allowed on the request of states.
The draft NFP 2016 also proposes that threat assessment of species and recovery measures based on population and habitat viability parameters should form an “integral and regular” part of management practices.
It has also called for establishment of regional forensic labs to support wildlife crime detection and prosecution.
“Build capacity among the front line staff and equip them for better detection and conviction in wildlife cases,” it said.
The draft proposes that introduction of exotic species through public or private sources should be “prohibited” unless long-term scientific studies undertaken by specialists in ecology, forestry and agriculture have established that they have no adverse impacts on native vegetation, wildlife or environment.
The Environment Ministry had recently given permission for “scientific management” of such animals in Uttarakhand, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh while similar proposals of Maharashtra and Gujarat are under examination.
“Sound eco-tourism models should be developed with a focus on conservation to ensure nature education of the visitors while supplementing the livelihood needs of the local communities.
“Ensure that tourism is responsible, does not negatively impact wildlife and its habitat and maximises the incomes of the local community,” the draft NFP said.
The draft NFP has been prepared by the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) and the Ministry has put it up in public domain seeking public opinion.
