Human-wildlife coexistence and Corridor Conservation
Do you know the biggest challenge in the conservation of forests and wildlife in today's times?
It is the human-wildlife coexistence in the corridors.
But why?
Animals need space to move. With growing numbers, animals also need more space. So, the different protected areas also need to be connected. On one hand, we are driving local people outside the core zones of the protected areas. The corridors remain unprotected and they are the zones where animals and the locals come in close contact with each other. Local people of forests are dependent on the forest resources. On the other hand, with the increasing human population, agriculture expansion and infrastructure development are on the rise. This leads to more competition for forest land and resources between man and animals. While the animals do not necessarily consider man as their prey, they attack in self-defense or damage the crops and domestic animals.
But there is not all darkness in this situation.
Human-wildlife coexistence can be promoted by involving locals to safeguard their forests. Community-based conservation is the key here. Last Wilderness Foundation has successfully reduced negative interactions between humans and wildlife in Panna Tiger Reserve. Last Wilderness Foundation has successfully worked on community-based conservation in the corridor between the Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary and the Panna Tiger Reserve by creating separate fodder land for cattle, building stone walls, growing local plants, and providing alternative livelihoods.
Read here to find out more.