Srinagar : Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, Sheetal Nanda, on Wednesday convened a meeting to review the rising incidents of Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC) and assess the measures for its effective and timely mitigation across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Suneesh Buxy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife)/Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K; Rajinder Singh Tara, Secretary, Forest Department; Secretary Technical; Regional Wildlife Wardens of Jammu and Kashmir and all Wildlife Wardens of the UT.
Dr. Suneesh Buxy made a detailed presentation on the current status of HWC in the UT and outlined the initiatives undertaken by the department for its mitigation.
The presentation covered the key drivers of HWC, operational challenges, existing response mechanisms, infrastructure and manpower gaps, identified conflict hotspots, rescue operations, community awareness efforts and the proposed Integrated Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Framework for 2026–29.
Sheetal Nanda directed all the concerned officers to formulate species-specific and situation-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for scientific, effective and timely mitigation of HWC incidents, including rescue, capture, handling, transportation, release/rehabilitation and post-rescue monitoring. She also instructed the department to ensure prompt settlement of compensation cases for victims. She stressed the need for inter-departmental coordination with Police, District Administration and allied wings of the Forest Department for immediate response to SOS calls.
Further, she directed for constitution of district-level coordination committees and asked the Wildlife Protection Department to submit a comprehensive action plan under CAMPA dedicated to address the HWC across J&K. The plan should assess requirements related to habitat improvement, conflict mitigation, infrastructure, equipment, manpower, preventive measures and other interventions at identified HWC hotspots, she added.
Sheetal Nanda also emphasized augmenting the existing infrastructure and equipment to enhance preparedness for handling HWC situations. She directed the department to leverage media platforms including TV, radio and social media for large-scale public awareness and sensitization.
To minimize wildlife movement into human habitations, she asked the concerned to launch plantation of wild fruit-bearing saplings in wildlife and forest areas to ensure food availability for animals in their natural habitat.
