Conflict identification and prioritization in proposed Tsangyang Gyatso biosphere reserve, Eastern Himalaya, India

Along with the Greater Himalaya, in the eastern Himalayan region there has been increased efforts to bring more areas under the Protected Area Network. Protected areas including conservation areas in Arunachal Pradesh are mostly located in the low and mid-elevation forest areas. To address the need of having a protected area in the higher altitudes of the State, of late a biosphere reserve has been proposed in the western Arunachal Pradesh. This paper aims to document the existing human-wildlife conflict and prioritize the conflicts, in an effort to promote conservation in the Tsangyang Gyatso Biosphere Reserve. The paper also attempts to understand the complexity of land transfer and regulations of community, particularly pasture lands in the Biosphere reserve. This study was carried out between September 2007 and July 2008 in the proposed biosphere reserve. A total of 13 species were recorded to be in direct conflict with humans, and based on the conflict intensity mapping nine were screened as high to moderate conflicting species. Conflict intensity as per the local perceptions was recorded high for 38% species and 31% species showed moderate intensity of conflict with humans. As per the local perception, causes for human-wildlife conflict in order of importance were: increased population, non-timber forest products (NTFP) collection, road construction and increased predators. Local people perceived four major factors, namely compensatory schemes, reducing prey hunt, reducing pressure on forest and increasing vigil to safeguard crops and livestock to mitigate the existing conflicts.

Note: Reproduced with the kind permission of the Bombay Natural History Society from the ‘Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society’ –2010