Abstract:
Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) poses significant challenges to biodiversity conservation, protected area management, and rural livelihoods in regions such as Nepal’s Tarai Arc Landscape (TAL), a critical habitat for endangered megafauna. Despite widespread implementation of HWC mitigation measures, their effectiveness remains understudied. This study provides the first comprehensive evaluation of mitigation interventions across five protected areas in TAL by integrating household surveys (n = 457), focus group discussions (n = 26), and key informant interviews (n = 17) to assess community perceptions, perceived effectiveness, and socio-ecological influences on the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Crop raiding (93.8 %) and livestock depredation (36.8 %) were the dominant forms of conflicts, driven by species such as wild boar, elephants, leopards, and tigers. Among 22 documented measures, improved mesh-wire fencing and predator-proof corrals emerged as the most preferred and effective measures, reducing crop and livestock losses by deterring small-to-medium herbivores and large carnivores, respectively. However, mitigation measures exhibited distinct strengths and limitations; electric/solar fencing faced challenges like high costs and maintenance, while predator-proof corrals required higher upfront costs for households. Community patrols and watchtowers, though effective in preventing wildlife moment into settlements and farms, were constrained by safety risks and continuous labor demands. Perceived effectiveness also varied across protected areas and socio-demographic factors, including gender, age, education status, landholding size, and ethnicity significantly shaped preferences, suggesting the need for context-specific strategies. Despite significant investments, government compensation schemes were less favored due to bureaucratic hurdles. While integrating multiple measures—physical barriers, community-led initiatives, and streamlining compensation mechanisms and awareness—can enhance short-term mitigation, addressing root causes like habitat fragmentation through habitat management and ecological restoration is vital for fostering long-term coexistence.
Shrestha, U. B., Shrestha, S., Khanal, S., Baral, N., Dhungel, U., Shrestha, A., Neupane, D., Dahal, B. R., & Thapa, S. K. (2025). People’s perceptions on the effectiveness of human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures in Nepal’s Tarai Arc Landscape. Journal of Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127944
