Section 11 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 empowers the State Chief Wild Life Warden for management of human wildlife conflict situations. The Ministry has requested the Government of Kerala to consider utilizing the provisions contained in section 11 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

The important steps taken by Government for protection of wildlife and to address human-animal conflicts include the following:

1. A network of Protected Areas namely viz., National Park, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves covering important wildlife habitat have been created all over the country under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals and their habitats.
2. The Central Government provides financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ and ‘Project Tiger and Elephant’ for management of wildlife and its habitat in the country. The activities supported under the schemes include construction/erection of physical barriers such as solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing, boundary walls etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields.
3. An advisory on dealing with human-wildlife conflict has been issued by the Ministry in February 2021. The Advisory recommends coordinated interdepartmental action, identification of conflict hot spots, adherence to Standard Operating Procedures, establishment of rapid response teams, formation of State and District level committees to review the quantum of ex-gratia relief, and issuing guidance/instructions for expedited payments etc.
4. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also issued Guidelines to State Governments and Union Territory Administrationson 3^rd June, 2022 on managing Human Wildlife conflict including damage to crops.
5. The Ministry has also issued species-specific guidelines to deal with human-wildlife conflict situations on 21.03.2023.
6. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides regulatory functions for dealing with human wildlife conflict situations.

This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE, SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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VM/GS