By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 16 Dec: Forest Ecology and Climate Change Division, FRI, is organising a one-week training course on ‘Human-Wildlife Interface Management’ for officers of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) from various state cadres of India. The purpose of this training course is to develop an understanding of the issues related to Human-Wildlife conflict at the interface and its management. The training course is being attended by IFS officers of Assam, Jharkhand, Telangana, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
The Chief Guest, Chief Wildlife Warden, Uttarakhand, Ranjan Kumar Mishra, in his inaugural address, shared his vast experience in human-wildlife conflict management. Mishra talked about the vast wildlife diversity of Uttarakhand and their interaction with locals as well as tourists. He explained in detail the protected area network in Uttarakhand with special emphasis on the Rajaji and Jim Corbett Tiger Reserves. He talked about various human-wildlife encounters in peripheral regions of the protected areas of Uttarakhand. Wildlife such as Tiger, Leopard, Wild Boar, Black Bear, Elephant, etc., are having encounters with people at an increasing level due to the pressure on their natural habitat. He also talked about the strategies adopted by the Government of India and Uttarakhand for human-wildlife conflict mitigation. Compensation for the loss of human life and livelihood due to wildlife was addressed at the utmost level. He also expressed his concern about the ecosystem destruction due to development activities and emphasised public awareness towards wild animals to reduce human-wildlife conflicts.
The training started with a welcome address by Dr Parul Bhatt Kotiyal, Head of the Forest Ecology & Climate Change Division. All Heads of Divisions, GCR, IFS Officers, and Scientists of the Institute attended the inaugural session of the course. The session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr Tara Chand, Course Coordinator.
The training program will be held from 16 to 20 December, in which eminent resource persons will share their experiences and knowledge on the ‘Human Wildlife Interface Management’. Three field tours will be arranged to Dehradun Zoo, Motichoor Tiger Enclosure, and Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve to expose the officers to the management practices adopted for the human-wildlife interface management by the authorities.
