District-Level Committee Report on Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict through Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Convening for Sustainable Coexistence

A district-level control committee meeting, under the leadership of District Collector Anu Kumari, was convened in Thiruvananthapuram to address the increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict. The primary focus of the meeting was the implementation of sustainable solutions in forest-fringe areas, with strategies directly aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure community safety and ecological balance.

Strategic Interventions Aligned with Global Goals

The committee outlined a multi-pronged approach, with each initiative designed to support specific SDGs and foster long-term resilience.

• Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Economic Resilience (SDG 1, 2, 8, 12)

  To enhance livelihoods and ensure food security, the committee approved measures to shift agricultural practices towards more sustainable models.

  1. Crop Diversification: Farmers in buffer zones will be encouraged to cultivate crops that are less likely to attract wild animals, a direct measure to protect harvests and support SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
  2. High-Value Crops: The promotion of aromatic and medicinal plants such as ginger, turmeric, pepper, kacholam, koduveli, adalodakam, and neem, along with citrus fruits and coffee, supports SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
  3. Enhanced Livelihoods: This strategic shift offers the dual benefits of deterring wildlife and providing better income opportunities for farmers, contributing directly to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

• Developing Resilient Infrastructure and Protecting Ecosystems (SDG 11, 15)

  Physical infrastructure projects were reviewed and approved to create safer communities and manage the human-wildlife interface, thereby protecting both people and terrestrial ecosystems.

  • Elephant-Proof Trenches: The committee reviewed the construction of nine such trenches, with four completed. An additional 11.8km of trenches were approved under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana scheme to protect farmlands.
  • Water Management: Permission was granted for a check dam at Kallar to help control elephant movement and protect adjacent agricultural areas.
  • Fencing Maintenance: A resolution was passed to expedite the repair and maintenance of existing solar fencing in vulnerable zones.
  • These infrastructure projects are critical for achieving SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by making human settlements safer and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by promoting peaceful coexistence with wildlife.

• Strengthening Governance and Partnerships (SDG 16, 17)

  The meeting highlighted that effective conflict management relies on robust institutional frameworks and collaboration.

  • Institutional Accountability: The session, attended by DFO Shanawas and representatives from various government departments, serves as a model for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by providing an inclusive and accountable platform for local governance.
  • Collaborative Action: The committee’s emphasis on a coordinated, multi-departmental approach embodies the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), acknowledging that managing this complex issue requires a united effort.

1. Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This is the most central SDG, as the article’s core theme is the management of human-wildlife conflict. The efforts to implement “sustainable solutions to reduce such conflicts,” protect farmlands from animal intrusions, and manage forest-fringe areas directly relate to protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article addresses food security and sustainable agriculture. Measures are aimed at safeguarding farmlands from wildlife to prevent crop loss. Furthermore, the promotion of alternative crops like “ginger, turmeric and pepper” is not only a deterrent but also intended to provide “better income opportunities for farmers,” which supports sustainable agriculture and the economic viability of small-scale farmers.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The issues discussed are directly related to making human settlements, particularly in “forest-fringe areas,” safer and more resilient. The construction of “elephant-proof trenches,” “a check dam,” and the repair of “solar fencing” are all measures to protect communities from the “growing threat posed by human-wildlife encounters,” thereby reducing the risk and impact of this specific type of local disaster.

2. Specific Targets Identified

1. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The article’s focus on managing conflict with elephants and other wild animals is a direct action to protect these species and manage their habitats in a way that allows for coexistence, thus preventing retaliatory killings and reducing pressure on their populations.
   • Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts. The convening of a “district-level control committee meeting” involving the district collector and various government departments is a clear example of integrating ecosystem and biodiversity management into local governance and planning processes.

2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers… The strategy to encourage farmers to “grow aromatic and medicinal plants” is explicitly linked to providing “better income opportunities for farmers,” directly aligning with this target.
   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems… The promotion of crops that “are less likely to attract wild animals” is a resilient agricultural practice designed to be sustainable within the local ecosystem by reducing conflict and crop loss.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses…caused by disasters…with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations. Human-wildlife conflict is a significant threat causing economic loss (crop destruction) and risk to life in vulnerable forest-fringe communities. The construction of protective infrastructure like “trenches across 11.8km” and a “check dam at Kallar” directly aims to reduce these impacts.

3. Mentioned or Implied Indicators

1. Indicators for SDG 15 (Life on Land)

   • The article implies that the primary metric for success is a reduction in the “increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict.” This serves as a direct indicator for progress in managing the ecosystem.
   • The establishment and functioning of the “district-level control committee” and the implementation of its decisions serve as a governance indicator for Target 15.9 (integrating ecosystem values into planning).

2. Indicators for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

   • The article points to farmers’ income as an indicator, as the goal is to provide “better income opportunities.”
   • The area of land cultivated with the promoted alternative crops (ginger, turmeric, pepper, etc.) would be a direct indicator of the adoption of these resilient agricultural practices.

3. Indicators for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)

   • The article provides several specific, measurable output indicators. These include the number and length of physical barriers constructed to protect communities: “nine elephant-proof trenches” (with progress noted as “Four of these trenches were completed”), an additional “11.8km” of trenches, “a check dam,” and the status of “repair and maintenance of existing solar fencing.”

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com