"Wildlife-friendly Community: Model for Human-wildlife Conflict Resolution"
Summary
Human-wildlife conflicts in the buffer zone of Huai Kha Khaeng Willdife Sanctuary were on a rise both in numbers and in terms of more intense retaliation when wild animals damage the cash crops. It had jeopardized community livelihoods and also threatened the last stronghold of Banteng which is an indicator for tiger's existence. With support of small grant from UNDP, the pioneer community members formed as Wildlife-friendly Community (WFC), adopted the alternative income generation that replaces the encroached farm land with mono-cropping, with higher productive organic farming. Then, turning the encroached area back to wildlife habitat with development of wildlife food plots, maintained and guarded by community members. The wildlife appearance makes the community-based wildlife tourism feasible. Marketing after the first crops of organic vegetables is expanding. Comparison of higher benefits from the less farmland but higher productivity ensures the confidence and increasing number of the WFC members.
Classifications
Region
Scale of implementation
Ecosystem
Theme
Challenges
Sustainable development goals
Aichi targets
Business engagement approach
Challenges
Environmental challenge: Biodiversity deterioration of the World Heritage Site which is the last stronghold of Tiger and it preys in Southeast Asia.
Social challenge: Unhealthy livelihoods and conflicts between park officials and encroached communities.
Economic challenge: Debt cycle from the contracted mono cropping with intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Beneficiaries
Led by the Wildlife-friendly Community Network, communities in 29 villages along the buffer zone of Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary will benefit from the replication and dissemination of good practices.
Building blocks
How do the building blocks interact?
The Agro-tourism guided by the story teller on the evolution of the wildlife-friendly community while the guests enjoy picking farm products and taste the authentic food, followed by a fantastic scenic view over the wildlife observatory. This combination is what people are longing to experience after the spread and lockdown of COVID. Nature appreciation and healthy lifestyle help connect the two blocks seemlessly.
Interaction Gallery
Impacts
The withdrawal from the encroached area which used to be the native wildlife habitat, has directly benefitted the abundant wildlife which has been able to return back to their homeland. The communities, despite of the reduced size of farming, have witnessed the increasing income from the alternative organic agriculture where the productivity increase surpassed the benefit of enlarging farmland of the wildlife habitat accord. Less encountering between human and wildlife, the enemies become the community’s assets when the wildlife appearance provides a fundamental element for the wildlife tourism. This alternative income generation enhances the gradual land use change in the buffer zone of the World Heritage Site, from intensively chemical monocropping into a sustainable land use and healthy livelihoods.
Story
We came from different places but all struggling for a sufficient and sustainable living. Uncle Go came here with a dog and his wife and in confidence for a new living. He gave up fighting with the wild animals and cycle of debts. This young man wants to challenge his mother in law on the new farming pratice that nobody will get sick with. The harvest leftover goes to the wildlife feeding station. Here, it will be our Home. Where human and wildlife can co-exist.
Pictures
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