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How The Climate Crisis Is Intensifying Human-Wildlife Conflict In India

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WhyOnEarth logo mobEditor’s Note: Are you bothered by the drastic changes in our climate, causing extreme weather events and calamities such as the Kerala Floods? #WhyOnEarth aims to take the truth to the people with stories, experiences, opinions and revelations about the climate change reality that you should know, and act on. Have a story to share? Click here and publish.

This post is part of theYKA Climate Action Fellowship, a 10-week integrated bootcamp to work on stories that highlight the impact of climate change on India’s most marginalized. Click here to find out more and apply.

As urban spaces grow and human habitation impinges on the boundary of protected areas and forests, human-animal conflicts are witnessing a rise. While this is true globally, India stands particularly vulnerable.

According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund( WWF), the country will be most affected by human-wildlife conflict, since it not only has the world’s second-largest human population, but also large populations of tigers, Asian elephants, one-horned rhinos, Asiatic lions and other species.

Dr Amarendra Das is a Reader (F) in the discipline of Economics at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research Bhubaneswar (NISER), Odisha. His broad research interests include Environmental Economics and Environmental Impact Assessment, Natural Resources Management, Impact Evaluation and Mining, Forestry, Human-wildlife conflict, etc.

In an interview conducted over email, Das talks about the relationship between climate change and its impact on human-wildlife conflict, how climate change has increased this conflict, and what the government can do to reduce it.

Photo by the author

Prasanta Patri (PP): What is the current scenario of India with respect to climate change?

Amarendra Das (AD): The increasing frequency of natural disasters-cum-extreme climatic events, especially floods and cyclones, rising summer temperature, and shorter winter spans are perhaps the early signs of climate change in India. The impact of it is going to be extreme – especially on vulnerable populations like the poor, as well as women who tend to suffer more from extreme climatic events such as floods and cyclones.

PP: Is Climate Change a major reason for human-wildlife conflict?

AD: Yes, it is one of the reasons for human-wildlife conflict. Apart from Climate Change, the degradation of forests by human beings and the plantation of alien species in forests have substantially reduced the food, fodder, and habitats of wild animals. Climate change is playing the role of exacerbating the problem further.

Degradation of forests, increase in human settlements, agricultural expansion, rapid urbanization, and illegal grass collections are increasing the human-wildlife conflict. The rising temperature also increases the risk of forest fires and hence plays a role in the increase in human-wildlife conflict.

PP: Can you explain how climate change exacerbates these conflicts?

AD: Human-wildlife interactions can be both positive and negative. But recent trends suggest an increasing trend of negativity as humans and wildlife compete with each other for food and resources. With the increasing frequency of forest fires, rise in natural disasters, loss of habitat, food, and fodder for animals, the conflicts are only likely to increase.

PP: Can you please through some light on the nature of the human-wildlife conflict in the Indian Himalayan biodiversity hotspot?

AD: Human elephant conflict is rampant throughout the country. The conflict between humans and -monkeys are also spreading rapidly. For example, the state of Uttarakhand is witnessing a severe monkey menace presently. This is hampering agricultural activities in the area. We need to do special research on how to reduce these conflicts.

PP: In your opinion, is the government paying enough attention to this issue?

AD: India is witnessing a definite increase in conflict between humans and wildlife. On its part, the government is doing many things to prioritize the protection of wildlife. For example, it set up the Standing Committee on the National Board of Wildlife (SC-NBWL).

In its 60th meeting that was held in January this year, the Committee approved the advisory for management of human-wildlife conflict in the country. The advisory also makes important prescriptions for the States/ Union Territories for dealing with Human-Wildlife conflict situations and seeks expedited inter-departmental coordinated and effective actions.

It also envisages empowering gram panchayats in dealing with the problematic wild animals as per Section 11 (1) (b) of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as well as ensuring provision of crop compensation through add-on coverage under the Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojna against crop damage due to HWC.

Some state governments, like the government of Uttar Pradesh, have listed the man-animal conflict under disasters in the state Disaster Response Fund.

But even though many policy announcements have been made at the national level, not much action has been taken in this regard.

Human elephant conflict is rampant throughout the country. Elephant electrocuted near Bandipur. Photo: Centre for Wildlife Studies

PP: Please throw some light on the legal framework that applies to protect the interest of the bio-diversity and wildlife as far as CC is concerned.

AD: The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Biological Diversity Act, 2002 are some of the important legislation in this regard. Strict enforcement of these legislations can help us in the protection of biodiversity and reduce human-wildlife conflict.

PP: Is it necessary for the government or every stakeholder to focus on the bad impact of climate change on human-wildlife conflict?

AD: To mitigate the effects of climate change, the government alone cannot do much. It needs mass mobilization and participation of all sections of the society to bring down the consequences of climate change and climate change-induced human-wildlife conflict.

PP: What major development interventions and adaptation decisions should be taken for the wellbeing of the human-wildlife conflict?

AD: We need to achieve the national goal of keeping 33% of land under forest cover. We need to leave that area in complete wilderness. Human activities inside the forest should be strictly prohibited.

PP: “Climate change will exacerbate conflicts over natural resources between and within species” What is your kind response to this statement?

AD: The conflicts over water and land are going to be severe. Similarly, the degradation of forests and biodiversity is going to increase the conflict over resources between and within species.

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An ambassador and trained facilitator under Eco Femme (a social enterprise working towards menstrual health in south India), Sanjina is also an active member of the MHM Collective- India and Menstrual Health Alliance- India. She has conducted Menstrual Health sessions in multiple government schools adopted by Rotary District 3240 as part of their WinS project in rural Bengal. She has also delivered training of trainers on SRHR, gender, sexuality and Menstruation for Tomorrow’s Foundation, Vikramshila Education Resource Society, Nirdhan trust and Micro Finance, Tollygunj Women In Need, Paint It Red in Kolkata.

Now as an MH Fellow with YKA, she’s expanding her impressive scope of work further by launching a campaign to facilitate the process of ensuring better menstrual health and SRH services for women residing in correctional homes in West Bengal. The campaign will entail an independent study to take stalk of the present conditions of MHM in correctional homes across the state and use its findings to build public support and political will to take the necessary action.

Saurabh has been associated with YKA as a user and has consistently been writing on the issue MHM and its intersectionality with other issues in the society. Now as an MHM Fellow with YKA, he’s launched the Right to Period campaign, which aims to ensure proper execution of MHM guidelines in Delhi’s schools.

The long-term aim of the campaign is to develop an open culture where menstruation is not treated as a taboo. The campaign also seeks to hold the schools accountable for their responsibilities as an important component in the implementation of MHM policies by making adequate sanitation infrastructure and knowledge of MHM available in school premises.

Read more about his campaign.

Harshita is a psychologist and works to support people with mental health issues, particularly adolescents who are survivors of violence. Associated with the Azadi Foundation in UP, Harshita became an MHM Fellow with YKA, with the aim of promoting better menstrual health.

Her campaign #MeriMarzi aims to promote menstrual health and wellness, hygiene and facilities for female sex workers in UP. She says, “Knowledge about natural body processes is a very basic human right. And for individuals whose occupation is providing sexual services, it becomes even more important.”

Meri Marzi aims to ensure sensitised, non-discriminatory health workers for the needs of female sex workers in the Suraksha Clinics under the UPSACS (Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society) program by creating more dialogues and garnering public support for the cause of sex workers’ menstrual rights. The campaign will also ensure interventions with sex workers to clear misconceptions around overall hygiene management to ensure that results flow both ways.

Read more about her campaign.

MH Fellow Sabna comes with significant experience working with a range of development issues. A co-founder of Project Sakhi Saheli, which aims to combat period poverty and break menstrual taboos, Sabna has, in the past, worked on the issue of menstruation in urban slums of Delhi with women and adolescent girls. She and her team also released MenstraBook, with menstrastories and organised Menstra Tlk in the Delhi School of Social Work to create more conversations on menstruation.

With YKA MHM Fellow Vineet, Sabna launched Menstratalk, a campaign that aims to put an end to period poverty and smash menstrual taboos in society. As a start, the campaign aims to begin conversations on menstrual health with five hundred adolescents and youth in Delhi through offline platforms, and through this community mobilise support to create Period Friendly Institutions out of educational institutes in the city.

Read more about her campaign. 

A student from Delhi School of Social work, Vineet is a part of Project Sakhi Saheli, an initiative by the students of Delhi school of Social Work to create awareness on Menstrual Health and combat Period Poverty. Along with MHM Action Fellow Sabna, Vineet launched Menstratalk, a campaign that aims to put an end to period poverty and smash menstrual taboos in society.

As a start, the campaign aims to begin conversations on menstrual health with five hundred adolescents and youth in Delhi through offline platforms, and through this community mobilise support to create Period Friendly Institutions out of educational institutes in the city.

Find out more about the campaign here.

A native of Bhagalpur district – Bihar, Shalini Jha believes in equal rights for all genders and wants to work for a gender-equal and just society. In the past she’s had a year-long association as a community leader with Haiyya: Organise for Action’s Health Over Stigma campaign. She’s pursuing a Master’s in Literature with Ambedkar University, Delhi and as an MHM Fellow with YKA, recently launched ‘Project अल्हड़ (Alharh)’.

She says, “Bihar is ranked the lowest in India’s SDG Index 2019 for India. Hygienic and comfortable menstruation is a basic human right and sustainable development cannot be ensured if menstruators are deprived of their basic rights.” Project अल्हड़ (Alharh) aims to create a robust sensitised community in Bhagalpur to collectively spread awareness, break the taboo, debunk myths and initiate fearless conversations around menstruation. The campaign aims to reach at least 6000 adolescent girls from government and private schools in Baghalpur district in 2020.

Read more about the campaign here.

A psychologist and co-founder of a mental health NGO called Customize Cognition, Ritika forayed into the space of menstrual health and hygiene, sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights and gender equality as an MHM Fellow with YKA. She says, “The experience of working on MHM/SRHR and gender equality has been an enriching and eye-opening experience. I have learned what’s beneath the surface of the issue, be it awareness, lack of resources or disregard for trans men, who also menstruate.”

The Transmen-ses campaign aims to tackle the issue of silence and disregard for trans men’s menstruation needs, by mobilising gender sensitive health professionals and gender neutral restrooms in Lucknow.

Read more about the campaign here.

A Computer Science engineer by education, Nitisha started her career in the corporate sector, before realising she wanted to work in the development and social justice space. Since then, she has worked with Teach For India and Care India and is from the founding batch of Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), a one of its kind organisation creating leaders for the development sector through its experiential learning post graduate program.

As a Youth Ki Awaaz Menstrual Health Fellow, Nitisha has started Let’s Talk Period, a campaign to mobilise young people to switch to sustainable period products. She says, “80 lakh women in Delhi use non-biodegradable sanitary products, generate 3000 tonnes of menstrual waste, that takes 500-800 years to decompose; which in turn contributes to the health issues of all menstruators, increased burden of waste management on the city and harmful living environment for all citizens.

Let’s Talk Period aims to change this by

Find out more about her campaign here.

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A former Assistant Secretary with the Ministry of Women and Child Development in West Bengal for three months, Lakshmi Bhavya has been championing the cause of menstrual hygiene in her district. By associating herself with the Lalana Campaign, a holistic menstrual hygiene awareness campaign which is conducted by the Anahat NGO, Lakshmi has been slowly breaking taboos when it comes to periods and menstrual hygiene.

A Gender Rights Activist working with the tribal and marginalized communities in india, Srilekha is a PhD scholar working on understanding body and sexuality among tribal girls, to fill the gaps in research around indigenous women and their stories. Srilekha has worked extensively at the grassroots level with community based organisations, through several advocacy initiatives around Gender, Mental Health, Menstrual Hygiene and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) for the indigenous in Jharkhand, over the last 6 years.

Srilekha has also contributed to sustainable livelihood projects and legal aid programs for survivors of sex trafficking. She has been conducting research based programs on maternal health, mental health, gender based violence, sex and sexuality. Her interest lies in conducting workshops for young people on life skills, feminism, gender and sexuality, trauma, resilience and interpersonal relationships.

A Guwahati-based college student pursuing her Masters in Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Bidisha started the #BleedwithDignity campaign on the technology platform Change.org, demanding that the Government of Assam install
biodegradable sanitary pad vending machines in all government schools across the state. Her petition on Change.org has already gathered support from over 90000 people and continues to grow.

Bidisha was selected in Change.org’s flagship program ‘She Creates Change’ having run successful online advocacy
campaigns, which were widely recognised. Through the #BleedwithDignity campaign; she organised and celebrated World Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2019 in Guwahati, Assam by hosting a wall mural by collaborating with local organisations. The initiative was widely covered by national and local media, and the mural was later inaugurated by the event’s chief guest Commissioner of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Debeswar Malakar, IAS.

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