Nagaland University researchers have proposed a comprehensive approach to mitigate human-tiger conflicts in Uttarakhand by combining ecotourism, community participation, and geospatial technology. They emphasize that the rising conflicts, stemming from ecological degradation, climate change, and expanding human activities, have severely increased in recent years. The study advocates for urgent interventions that integrate ecological conservation, technological monitoring, and active community involvement to ensure sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife. Focused on the buffer zones around Jim Corbett National Park, the research analyzed trends in human-tiger conflicts over 30 years (1991–2025) and employed two GIS-based modules to evaluate land use changes, habitat area, population density, tourism pressure, and conflict incidents. It identified four risk zones for human-tiger conflicts: low, moderate, high, and very high. Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik, Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University, praised the study for promoting community-based ecotourism as a means to alleviate dependency on forest resources, improve local livelihoods, and foster wildlife coexistence. The findings were published in the International Journal Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.
Study points to ecotourism as key tool in managing human–tiger conflicts
