Retired Range Forest Officer
Forests, wildlife, and the ecosystems they support are vital to life on earth. These natural assets purify air, regulate temperatures, store carbon, and host diverse biodiversity. However, globally and particularly in our country, these ecosystems face increasing pressures. Rapid urbanisation, agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, and unsustainable resource use threaten forests and drive wildlife closer to humans.
Preserving these systems involves protecting clean air, fertile soil, fresh water, and a liveable climate for future generations. The challenges are numerous and interconnected, but with thoughtful community-driven solutions, a path forward is possible.
Urbanisation and habitat fragmentation
One of the most urgent threats to forests is the shrinking availability of land. As cities expand outward and villages become more developed, forested areas are often the first to be cleared to make way for roads, housing, mining, and industry. This not only reduces forest cover but also fragments once-contiguous habitats, disrupting migration routes and cutting off vital ecosystems from one another.
Fragmented forests become isolated patches that cannot support large populations of wildlife, resulting in increased competition, reduced genetic diversity, and ultimately, population declines. Moreover, many animal species such as gaurs, leopards, and deer are forced to leave their habitats and venture into human settlements in search of food and water, often resulting in dangerous and sometimes fatal encounters.
Disruption of underground water channels
One lesser-known but highly critical impact of rapid development is the disturbance of underground water channels. In forested and hilly regions, these channels supply natural springs, streams, and lakes that are crucial for forest survival. Construction activities such as tunnel digging, road building, and deforestation block or reroute these natural flows, causing water sources to dry up in high hills.
This scarcity affects the entire ecosystem from trees and shrubs to the animals that depend on these water bodies. Without reliable water sources, wildlife must travel longer distances, often into populated areas, which increases the likelihood of human-animal conflict. It also depletes the local vegetation, as drought-stressed trees are more prone to disease and death, further exacerbating deforestation.
Wildlife conflicts, overpopulation of stray animals
The conflict between urban growth and wildlife is becoming increasingly visible. A key driver is the overpopulation of stray dogs and cats in towns and cities. Poor waste management and open garbage dumps provide an easy and abundant food source for these animals, which in turn attract predators such as leopards into urban areas. These predators, once confined to forests, now enter human settlements in search of food, leading to dangerous encounters and heightened fear among residents.
Similarly, species like macaques have become urban dwellers, scavenging through waste, damaging crops, and even invading homes. Their adaptability and high reproductive rate make them difficult to control. The lack of clear buffer zones between natural habitats and human dwellings further intensifies this issue.
Firewood Dependency
In many rural regions, firewood remains the primary cooking fuel, despite increased access to alternatives like LPG. The reliance on firewood has serious consequences for forest regeneration. Additionally, small timbers and poles for fencing and agricultural purposes also contribute to the issue. Often, young saplings are cut before they reach maturity, preventing forests from replenishing themselves.
This leads to forests becoming "even-aged" and lacking the natural diversity needed for resilience. Such forests are more vulnerable to pests, diseases, and environmental stress. In the long run, this compromises the forest’s ability to provide essential services such as carbon sequestration, water retention, and soil fertility.
Sustainable Solutions: Multifaceted Approach
Though the problems are vast and complex, several solutions offer hope. Sustainable forest and wildlife conservation must combine ecological wisdom with community participation, technological innovation, and policy support.
1. Ridge-to-Valley Soil and Water Conservation: A holistic approach to soil and water conservation extending from the ridge of a hill to the valley below is essential to restore degraded lands and ensure moisture retention. Techniques like vegetative barriers, brushwood and dry-stone dams, gabions, contour trenches, check dams, small ponds, and waterholes are vital.
In regions where rainfall is seasonal, such interventions help maintain consistent soil moisture levels, reduce runoff, and prevent erosion. This also promotes forest regeneration and provides vital resources for wildlife, especially during dry periods.
2. Ensuring water availability for wildlife: To address the migration of animals into human settlements, we must ensure adequate water within forest areas. This can be achieved by creating and maintaining waterholes, as well as preserving existing natural and artificial water bodies. Regular desilting, cleaning, and fencing of these sources are critical to their long-term viability.
Such interventions support resident animal populations and encourage them to stay within their natural ranges, thereby reducing the likelihood of conflict with nearby communities.
3. Grassland management and fodder cultivation: Developing and maintaining grasslands within or near forest areas helps provide a stable food supply for herbivores such as deer, antelope, and elephants. These grasslands, when combined with fodder-yielding native plants, ensure that wildlife does not need to seek food in nearby farms.
Additionally, creating zones with adequate cover and concealment allows for natural predator-prey interactions to continue in a healthy, balanced way, an essential element for maintaining the ecological integrity of forests.
4. Community forestry and managed firewood harvesting: Empowering local communities through participatory forest management is a proven model for sustainable conservation. Communities can be encouraged to cultivate high-calorie-value tree species on private or common lands, specifically for firewood.
This approach ensures that forests are not overharvested and that young trees have a chance to mature. It also provides economic opportunities through the regulated sale of firewood and minor forest products.
Urban forestry programmes where trees are planted in parks, along roads, and in residential areas can be strategically designed to allow trimming and harvesting without damaging the ecosystem. Miyawaki-style mini forests, mimicking native forest ecosystems, are another innovative model gaining traction.
5. Livestock and crop protection through smart fencing: Protecting agricultural land from wildlife incursions is key to gaining local support for conservation efforts. Governments and NGOs can help provide materials for solar-powered electric fences, barbed wire, or live fences made from fast-growing tree species that also provide timber, fodder, or medicinal value.
Live fences can serve dual purposes—acting as boundaries while also supplying economic or ecological benefits. Trees such as Adulsa (Adhatoda vasica) and Nirgundi (Vitex negundo) can even be used post-harvest to store grains and repel pests.
6. Sustainable building practices: Replacing temporary wooden structures like huts and watchtowers with durable steel or cement alternatives can drastically reduce timber consumption. This is especially important in rural and forest-adjacent areas where wood is often sourced directly from nearby forests.
Such structural changes can help relieve pressure on young trees, giving forests a better chance to regenerate naturally.
7. Promoting eco-friendly wood use: Paradoxically, using wood sustainably can help preserve nature. Wood engaged in long-term use, like furniture and timber, may help keep carbon trapped for a longer duration. Encouraging the use of fast-growing, low-value timber species in furniture, home décor, plywood, and composite boards helps store carbon long-term while reducing reliance on plastics. This approach allows for better forest management while contributing to the economy.
8. Strengthening waste management systems: Finally, the root cause of many urban wildlife problems, poor waste management, must be addressed. Municipalities must implement strict waste collection, segregation, and disposal systems. Organic waste should be composted or managed away from human and animal access to prevent attracting stray animals and scavengers.
Public awareness campaigns and community participation will be essential to ensure these systems are respected and maintained.
Shared Responsibility
The challenges facing our forests, wildlife, and ecosystems are vast yet not insurmountable. With a blend of community engagement, policy reform, scientific innovation, and traditional knowledge, we can forge a path toward sustainable conservation. Our forests are more than just trees—they are living systems that support our climate, water, soil, and future. By taking action now, we can create an environment where both people and wildlife not only coexist but thrive.
