THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
The State Forest Department is preparing a comprehensive Human-Wildlife Conflict Management Plan aimed at reducing increasing incidents of conflict between humans and wild animals across the State, with the department already identifying conflict hotspots in villages and forest-fringe areas.
The issue figured prominently during the monthly review meeting chaired by Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane with Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and senior forest officials, where the progress of key conservation initiatives and implementation gaps were reviewed.
Rane said that the discussions centred on monsoon preparedness, the proposed Human-Wildlife Conflict Management Plan, identification of ecologically sensitive areas along the Mandovi and Zuari rivers, the status of waterholes and grasslands, prey-predator dynamics in protected areas, and the standard operating procedure (SOP) for registration of eco-guides. Preparations for Van Mahotsav were also reviewed to ensure greater public participation in conservation activities.
The conflict management plan assumes significance as the Forest Department has already begun mapping human-wildlife conflict hotspots across Goa. The exercise is being carried out using records from the Department of Agriculture, Goa Waste Management Corporation and complaints to identify vulnerable areas and recommend species-specific mitigation measures.
Forest officials have earlier stated that even villages reporting a single incident over the last five years are being included in the mapping exercise. Compensation records relating to crop damage are also being analysed to identify recurring patterns and determine the animal species responsible for conflicts.
Last year, the department had approached the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to carry out a systematic assessment of wildlife in areas outside the protected zones in the State. The State had stressed the need for a detailed study to map conflict zones, identify animal corridors, map the vulnerability of various species, assess threats and create proper plans to reduce conflict.
Rane said regular review meetings were essential to ensure timely implementation of projects, improve accountability and strengthen the functioning of the Forest Department in protecting Goa's biodiversity and natural heritage.
