National Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan of India

The National Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan (HWC-NAP) - 2021-26 for India is a guiding document facilitating a holistic approach to mitigate human-wildlife conflict (HWC), in an inclusive and sustainable manner.

Vision

Humans and wildlife in India are living in harmonious co-existence and are well protected against the negative impacts associated with HWC.

Mission

To mitigate HWC in India, by addressing its drivers and pressures, managing knowledge and information, and facilitating capacity development of key actors, for clear assessment of the situation and reducing the negative impacts of conflict on humans as well as on wildlife, with effective engagement of key stakeholders. 

Executive Summary

The HWC-NAP presents an opportunity and framework to mainstream HWC mitigation in policies, plans and programmes of the forest sector and other sectors and, at all levels of governance (national, state and local), to ensure harmonious co-existence and overall well-being of humans and wildlife, conservation of ecosystem services and sustainable economic development. This approach is consistent with Indian tradition of living in harmony with nature, the Vision for New India @75 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The HWC-NAP is built on systems thinking aimed at holistically addressing the ‘Drivers-Pressures-StateImpact-Response’. The HWC-NAP has five strategic priorities: addressing the drivers; reducing the pressures; data and information for decision making and rapid response; reduction of impacts on human and wildlife; and strengthening of institutional and financial structures for effective implementation. These priorities are complemented by 24 strategic goals, 88 desired results and achievements (at the outcome and outputs levels), and 56 indicators designed to measures progress (at process, output and impact levels).

Given that HWC mitigation is a complex issue and it will take time to set up the mechanisms for monitoring, personnel and processes, the first phase of the implementation (2021-2026) would serve as a capacity development phase. This phase will also be critical for states in setting up the mechanism and processes for development of state HWC strategy and action plans. They will also be creating enabling environment at state-level through State HWC Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan (HWC-SAP), and division-level HWC Management Action Plans (HWC-MAP), aligned with the national plan. Institutional structures such as National HWC Mitigation Forum, State-level Coordination Committees (SLCC), landscape-level HWC forum, District-level Coordination Committee (DLCC) will play active roles in bringing in the required cross-sector and inter-agency coordination, for effective implementation of the HWC mitigation plans and guidelines.

Supplementary frameworks of HWC-NAP

The HWC-NAP is supported by four supplementary frameworks:

1. Supplementary Framework on Establishment and Capacity Development of HWC Mitigation Response Teams;
2. Common Framework for Developing State Human-Wildlife Conflict Strategy and Action Plans: A Coordinated Approach towards Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict in India;
3. Common Framework for Developing Division-level HWC Management Action Plans: A Coordinated Approach towards Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict in India;
4. Supplementary Framework: Legislative Framework for National Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) Mitigation Strategy & Action Plan.

Issue specific guidelines 

Also, the following issue-specific and species-specific guidelines are being developed, to provide focussed guidance:

1. Forest-Media Cooperation;
2. Occupational Health and Safety;
3. Crowd Management;
4. Medical Emergencies;
5. Guidelines for Mitigating Human-Elephant, -Leopard, -Gaur, -Snake, -Crocodile, -Macaque, -Wild Boar, -Bear, -Bluebull, -Blackbuck conflict.
6. To facilitate effective and efficient implementation of the HWC-NAP, an Implementer’s Toolkit will be developed.

To access the complete Action Plan, click here.

Source : Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change