Syllabus: GS-III & V: Conservation

Why in the News?

The Supreme Court has directed all States to treat Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC) as a “natural disaster”, mandating ₹10 lakh ex-gratia for each human death and instructing the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to issue binding national guidelines within six months

• The decision comes at a time when Assam is witnessing alarming levels of conflict, including 71 human deaths and 41 elephant deaths in 2025, driven by shrinking habitats and rising pressures on wildlife corridors.

Understanding Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC)

• Human–Wildlife Conflict refers to negative interactions between people and wildlife—typically involving crop destruction, livestock loss, property damage, injury, or death.
• It emerges when wild animals stray into human settlements posing a threat to human interest due to habitat loss, fragmentation, climate stress, or food scarcity.
• The management of HWC is the responsibility of the respective state/UT government.

Scale of the Problem: India & Assam

India-wide

• Elephants kill 400–450 people annually (MoEFCC).
• Tigers are involved in 60–70 human fatalities yearly.
• Over 1,500 elephants have died in India in the last two decades due to anthropogenic causes (electrocution, poisoning, railway hits).

Assam-specific (2000–2023 Study)

• 1,468 human deaths in encounters with elephants.
• 626 elephant deaths due to human-related causes.
• In 2025 alone, 11 elephants died by deliberate electrocution (Oct 23–Nov 16).

Assam, already a State Disaster region for elephant conflict, is one of the worst-affected States in India.

Drivers of Human–Wildlife Conflict

A. Ecological Drivers

• Habitat loss due to agriculture expansion, mining, settlements.
• Fragmented wildlife corridors interrupt traditional elephant/tiger movement routes.
• Climate change causing food scarcity and water stress.

B. Anthropogenic Drivers

• Electrocution (illegal fencing), poisoning, retaliatory attacks.
• Linear infrastructure: railway lines, highways, power lines.
• Rapid urbanisation & encroachment near reserve forests.
  

C. Wildlife Drivers

• Seasonal movement patterns (elephant harvest-season movement).
• Disturbance inside forests pushing animals outward.

Impact of Human–Wildlife Conflict

On Humans

• Loss of life, injury, trauma.
• Crop losses, property damage, and long-term livelihood insecurity.
• Social tensions, resentment toward conservation authorities.

On Wildlife

• Electrocution, poisoning, train collisions.
• Fragmentation leading to genetic isolation.
• Decline of endangered species like the Asian elephant.
  

Supreme Court’s Key Directions (2025)

1. HWC declared a “Natural Disaster”

• Mandates ₹10 lakh ex-gratia for every human death.
• Ensures state-level disaster response and budget allocation.

2. NTCA to issue a National HWC Mitigation Guideline

• Must incorporate CEC (Central Empowered Committee) recommendations.
• States must implement it within six months of issuance.

3. Infrastructure rules

• “Avoidance first” principle in wildlife-rich forests.
• Strict adherence to Wildlife Institute of India, NTCA, and National Board for Wildlife guidelines.
• Mandatory disclosure of Tiger Reserves, corridors, ESZs on Gati Shakti Portal.

4. Eco-tourism regulations

• No mass-tourism-like resorts near Protected Areas.
• New eco-friendly resorts only in buffer areas, not in wildlife corridors.
• Promotion of community-managed homestays.
  

National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) Scheme: Access to Justice for HWC Victims (2025)

Key Features

• Free legal aid for all HWC victims (irrespective of income).
• LSIs (legal services institutions) must proactively monitor conflict zones.
• Compensation cases to be processed immediately.
• Strong coordination between Forest Department, ASDMA, Police, Revenue, and District Legal Services Authority.

Importance

• Recognises Article 21 obligation of the State to protect life.
• Reduces bureaucratic delays in compensation.
• Promotes coexistence and conservation.
  

Assam’s Unique Crisis & Proposed Measures

Current Concerns

• Spike in elephant electrocution and retaliatory killing.
• High conflict zones: Goalpara, Sonitpur, Udalguri, Nagaon, Golaghat.

Key Recommendations 

• Compensation via ASDMA within two working days.
• Investigate all electrocution cases as criminal offences.
• Shift crop/property damage compensation to ASDMA, freeing Forest Dept. to focus on habitat restoration.

Government Initiatives & Relevant Acts

1. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Provides legal protection to threatened species and empowers states to create sanctuaries, national parks.

2. Centrally Sponsored Scheme: Project Elephant: Supports habitat protection and conflict mitigation.

3. Tiger Conservation Plan & NTCA Guidelines: Mandates regulated tourism, corridor protection.

4. Protected Areas Expansion: Creation of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, community reserves in conflict hotspots.

5. Technology-driven Surveillance: Solar fencing, Early-warning systems, AI-based monitoring and Elephant tracking and corridor mapping

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s intervention marks a transformational shift—moving HWC management from a forest-sector issue to a disaster-management priority. In states like Assam, where human and elephant interactions are both frequent and fatal, the combination of legal oversight, scientific habitat planning, and fast-track compensation offers hope for safer coexistence.

Exam Hook – Mains Question

Q. Human–Wildlife Conflict is no longer an environmental issue alone but a governance and disaster-management challenge. Discuss in the context of recent Supreme Court directions and rising conflict in Assam.

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