<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/karnataka">Karnataka</a> has witnessed a sharp rise in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/wildlife">wildlife</a> conflicts in recent years, and the situation is only set to worsen unless immediate corrective measures are taken. From cattle deaths to crop destruction, and even human injuries and fatalities, the state’s wildlife management is facing a full-blown crisis.</p>.<p>An analysis of data paints a grim picture: the number of cattle kills has increased from around 2,000 to over 3,000 annually in just five years. Similarly, crop damage is now nearing 38,000 instances per year. While the rise in conflicts is often attributed to forest encroachment, this narrative oversimplifies a much more complex issue. Encroachment is undoubtedly a major concern, but it is not the root cause.</p>.<p>A far more pressing issue is the deteriorating health and quality of the state’s forests. The rapid growth of monoculture plantations and the spread of invasive species like lantana, eupatorium and parthenium have depleted the biodiversity of the forests, leaving animals without their natural food source, further escalating conflicts.</p>.<p>This ecological imbalance is compounded by the absence of effective afforestation policies and their poor implementation. While the state has undertaken numerous afforestation initiatives, the quality of these efforts is often questionable. Is afforestation really taking place on the ground, or is it simply a paper exercise to justify the release of funds? This calls for a thorough audit of the state’s afforestation programmes and the overall health of the forests.</p>.Rising wildlife conflict in Karnataka hints at emerging crisis.<p>Is the state creating habitats that can support wildlife, or is it merely planting trees without any regard for the ecological need of the land? Moreover, the problem is being amplified by climate change. As temperatures rise and rainfall patterns shift, the forest ecosystems are under immense stress, disrupting the delicate balance of flora and fauna. Forest fragmentation, driven by infrastructure projects, mining and unchecked tourism, has further shrunk the living spaces of many species.</p>.<p>What is urgently required is a comprehensive conservation policy, that goes beyond piecemeal solutions. The forest department needs to prioritise ecosystem restoration, address the invasive species problem, and ensure that afforestation programmes are scientifically and ecologically sound. The department, already stretched thin, needs more support in terms of resources and personnel.</p>.<p>At the same time, a coordinated effort between government agencies, NGOs, and local communities is essential to manage and mitigate wildlife conflicts. To prevent this crisis from spiralling out of control, the government should move beyond blaming encroachment and focus on restoring the quality of forests. Only with a holistic approach to conservation can the state hope to balance human development with the survival of wildlife.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/karnataka">Karnataka</a> has witnessed a sharp rise in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/wildlife">wildlife</a> conflicts in recent years, and the situation is only set to worsen unless immediate corrective measures are taken. From cattle deaths to crop destruction, and even human injuries and fatalities, the state’s wildlife management is facing a full-blown crisis.</p>.<p>An analysis of data paints a grim picture: the number of cattle kills has increased from around 2,000 to over 3,000 annually in just five years. Similarly, crop damage is now nearing 38,000 instances per year. While the rise in conflicts is often attributed to forest encroachment, this narrative oversimplifies a much more complex issue. Encroachment is undoubtedly a major concern, but it is not the root cause.</p>.<p>A far more pressing issue is the deteriorating health and quality of the state’s forests. The rapid growth of monoculture plantations and the spread of invasive species like lantana, eupatorium and parthenium have depleted the biodiversity of the forests, leaving animals without their natural food source, further escalating conflicts.</p>.<p>This ecological imbalance is compounded by the absence of effective afforestation policies and their poor implementation. While the state has undertaken numerous afforestation initiatives, the quality of these efforts is often questionable. Is afforestation really taking place on the ground, or is it simply a paper exercise to justify the release of funds? This calls for a thorough audit of the state’s afforestation programmes and the overall health of the forests.</p>.Rising wildlife conflict in Karnataka hints at emerging crisis.<p>Is the state creating habitats that can support wildlife, or is it merely planting trees without any regard for the ecological need of the land? Moreover, the problem is being amplified by climate change. As temperatures rise and rainfall patterns shift, the forest ecosystems are under immense stress, disrupting the delicate balance of flora and fauna. Forest fragmentation, driven by infrastructure projects, mining and unchecked tourism, has further shrunk the living spaces of many species.</p>.<p>What is urgently required is a comprehensive conservation policy, that goes beyond piecemeal solutions. The forest department needs to prioritise ecosystem restoration, address the invasive species problem, and ensure that afforestation programmes are scientifically and ecologically sound. The department, already stretched thin, needs more support in terms of resources and personnel.</p>.<p>At the same time, a coordinated effort between government agencies, NGOs, and local communities is essential to manage and mitigate wildlife conflicts. To prevent this crisis from spiralling out of control, the government should move beyond blaming encroachment and focus on restoring the quality of forests. Only with a holistic approach to conservation can the state hope to balance human development with the survival of wildlife.</p>
