Now Reading: State Plans Wildlife Policy Overhaul; Experts Urge Legal Reforms, Eco Education
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State Plans Wildlife Policy Overhaul; Experts Urge Legal Reforms, Eco Education
Swift Summary:
- Rising incidents of human-wildlife conflict: Kerala’s Forest department plans to revamp its conflict management policy amid increasing instances of wildlife straying into farmlands and settlements.
- Stakeholders’ meeting highlights:
– Stronger farmer involvement proposed in decision-making for mitigation efforts.
– Suggested measures include bio-fencing, hanging fences, trenches, and crop incentives.
– Species frequently causing conflicts: wild boars, elephants, bonnet macaques, leopards, and peacocks. Beekeeping recommended as a deterrent in bear-free zones.
- Educational initiatives proposed:
– Integration of animal psychology and environmental awareness into school curricula.
– Training students as ‘Eco Guards,’ inspired by the Student Police Cadet program.
- Legal recommendations:
– Demand to establish a tribunal for compensation claims related to human-wildlife conflicts (similar to MACT).- Need for laws addressing waste disposal practices that attract animals toward settlements.
- Advancement concerns addressed: unregulated tourism near forest fringes criticized; resorts should maintain distance from forest zones; proposals made for digital land survey preservation standardization.
- Measures for road safety suggested: Use traffic signals on roads cutting through forests to reduce animal accidents.
- The draft approach paper will be officially launched by CM Pinarayi Vijayan at Kozhikode on Sunday alongside a state-wide action plan.
Indian Opinion Analysis:
The Forest department’s initiative reflects an urgent response to the pressing issue of wildlife encroachment driven by habitat loss and increased human activity near forested regions. By emphasizing farmer participation and proposing incentives tied to crop choices, there’s potential for more localized solutions tailored around community needs-an essential step given farmers are often direct stakeholders facing these challenges.Training students as ‘Eco Guards’ is an innovative step toward nurturing future conservation advocates while fostering better public understanding of human-wildlife dynamics. Similarly noteworthy are legal proposals such as creating dedicated tribunals and addressing unscientific waste disposal practices that exacerbate wildlife incursion issues.However,balancing economic activities like tourism with ecological preservation remains critical.Adopting stricter regulations on resort locations near forests could set precedent in managing disturbances affecting wildlife habitats nationally.
if successfully implemented with adequate interdepartmental coordination during the upcoming statewide action plan rollout led by Chief Minister pinarayi Vijayan-this revamped policy may offer constructive pathways not just for Kerala but also potentially guide other states facing similar conflicts across India.
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