Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflicts through EbA in Nepal

The Brahmadev-Laljhadi complex located in the Sudurpaschim Province of Nepal is a mosaic of national park and biological corridors covering a total area of 82,032 ha of land from terai to mid-hill regions. The Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA) suggests that Sudurpaschim Province is extremely vulnerable to climate change and by 2050, the risk of climate change impacts will grow more than in other provinces (MoFE, 2021). Unpredictable climate variability is causing a negative impact on both forest and freshwater ecosystems -identified as critical wildlife habitats, and the local communities that are dependent on these natural resources. Water scarcity, increased events of forest fires from prolonged dry periods, flooding and landslides are causing unprecedented challenges to ecosystems and its services, triggering the loss of suitable habitat and water sources for wildlife. The assessment also reveals that the districts within the project sites are hotspots from climate induced disasters, mainly fire, flood, and landslides. With such dire predictions, lives and livelihood of local communities dependent upon the natural resources as well as habitat of wildlife are at stake.

As climate change reshapes resource availability in nature and hinders the flow of ecosystem services both human and animal are dependent upon, Ecosystem based Adaptation (EbA) will be key to avoid the possible Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC). Evidence shows that both HWC and climate risk are escalating, and there is a high possibility of connection between them. Without understanding “the climate-conflict nexus”, investing in mitigation of HWC can be ineffective and unsustainable in the long run. Investments in such mitigation actions through business-as-usual development plans of local/provincial government and of Community based Natural Resource Management (NRM) institutions will be futile. Since the issue is new and emerging, there is a low understanding of “the climate-conflict nexus” with nearly no knowledge and capacity to address in the planning process. Thus, the project will fill the knowledge gap by developing a framework on the climate-conflict nexus backed up by case studies, identify EbA interventions, and improve capacity of duty bearers to translate knowledge into actions. The project results will also be shared through various mediums that would support decision makers, EbA enthusiasts and researchers in further planning and upscaling in other areas across the country as well as for other countries with similar context.