Workshop explores solution to human-elephant conflict in Tura (State of Meghalaya, India)
Workshop explores solution to human-elephant conflict in Tura (State of
Meghalaya, India)
The Shillong Times
September 22, 2022
See link
https://theshillongtimes.com/2022/09/22/workshop-explores-solution-to-human-elephant-conflict-in-tura/
for photo.
TURA: A one-day inception workshop for a project on ‘Promotion of
Coexistence in Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) Hotspots in Northeast
India-mitigation and intervention’ was held at the circuit house here today.
The programme was organised by the Meghalaya Forest Department, West Garo
Hills in collaboration with Aaranyak and the British Asian Trust.
It may be mentioned that the department is implementing an innovative
project to enable human elephant co-existence at the landscape level in
Northeast India by safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of people and
elephants, resulting in improved welfare of communities and biodiversity
conservation.
The department had also adopted a multi stakeholder approach to mitigate
the rising human-elephant conflict in few selected villages of the West and
North Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya.
Speaking during the workshop, the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner,
Swapnil Tembe emphasized on the need to form a kind of Quick Response Team
at the village level so that as and when the need arises they can respond
and act promptly.
He also said that the team should be provided training and also educate the
villagers about elephants, their behaviour and coexistence with humans.
He also suggested to explore the possibilities among line departments and
also to converge with MGNREGA for bio-fencing if possible and advised the
members of the organisation to collaborate with Voluntary Protection Squad
already formed by the Forest department to mitigate human-elephant conflict.
In his presentation on the “Promotion of Co-existence in Human-Elephant
Conflict Hotspots in Northeast India”, Dr. Bibhuti P Lahkar, Head, ERCD,
Aaranyak said that human-elephant conflict is a complex issue and
highlighted different issues, problems and conflict situation in Meghalaya
adding that about 30 persons died because of HEC while 21 were injured.
Stating that for next three years, the organisation is going to work in
West and North Garo Hills district, he said that they have selected four
villages of West Garo Hills District which are in close proximity to
elephant habitat or elephant corridors, villages having maximum number of
conflict, etc.
Further, while mentioning few of the proposed activities in these areas, he
said that outreach and awareness programs would be conducted to sensitize
the villagers and conservation organisations on the potential role they can
play in safeguarding both elephants and people and also train them to
install solar powered electric fencing to protect crops without harming
elephants including identifying of other livelihood options to supplement
their income.
Moreover, he also suggested for bio fencing in which three rows of lemon
plants can be planted to protect the crops, etc. Seeking support and
cooperation of all line departments such as Agriculture, Animal Husbandry &
Veterinary, Power, MBDA, etc. he said that the Forest department alone
cannot manage these issues and needs the collaboration of all departments
as well as the participation of all stakeholders to safeguard both
elephants and people of the region.
Dr. Alolika Sinha, Manager, ERCD, Aaranyak highlighted the background of
the workshop and informed that Aaranyak is a non-profit, non-government
conservation organisation based in Assam and has been working towards
mitigating HEC and facilitating human-elephant coexistence using
multi-pronged approaches.
She also mentioned that the organisation had developed an elephant
conservation plan for northeast India and ensures coexistence in the
region.
The elephant conservation project of Aaranyak is partnered by British Asian
Trust and supported by Darwin Initiative Fund, UK which aims to facilitate
coexistence by empowering local communities, reduce poverty by protecting
lives and livelihood while also protecting elephants to reduce biodiversity
loss, she stated.
Superintendent of Taxes, West Garo Hills Tura and a Conservationist Bhuto
Marak who had been creating awareness about conservation and wildlife for
the last six years in Garo Hills region shared his vivid observation with
the participants and suggested them to deal with the actual issues that
happen in the area.
He also insisted on identifying people especially in villages from the
community to look after the conservation and protect the wildlife in the
area.