Table of Contents
Context
- To prevent wild animals from entering residential areas and to protect agricultural crops and livestock in areas adjoining to forests, the Uttarakhand government has decided to opt for bio-fencing.
Bio-fencing
- Bio-fencings are lines of trees or shrubs planted on farm or field boundaries that provide protection against cattle and wildlife, act as windbreaks, enrich the soil, provide bee forage, provide shade, and control dust.
Case study
- According to Uttarakhand officials, lemongrass, agave, rambans, and certain species of chilly and some other plant species have been identified to be grown for fencing.
- Leopards and bears, along with elephants and wild boars are a major threat to human life, livestock and crops.
Significance
- Solar-powered wire fencing is effective only when local villagers maintain them.
- If local farmers agree to be part of the bio-fencing exercise, they can earn by growing lemongrass, a good source of oil.
High Cost of Man-Animal Conflict
- Some examples of human-wildlife conflict include:
- Predation on livestock or domestic animals by wild animals
- Ungulate damage to crops and fences
- Wildlife strewing about residential garbage
- Damage caused by squirrels or bats to fruit and fruit trees
- Bird nesting in undesirable residential locations
- Vehicle/wildlife collisions, aircraft/bird collisions
Way ahead
- The solutions are often specific to the species or area concerned and are often creative and simple. Solutions should lead to mutually beneficial co-existence.
- Apart from the above-mentioned measures, the WWF report ‘Common Ground’identifies themes that can be used to compose a common ground or a basic list of available and tested solutions.
- In current times, man animal conflict is a reality we have to deal with and thus proactive measures are required for a healthy human animal interface. Examine.
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