A two-day workshop titled ‘Challenges for Biodiversity Conservation and Human-Wildlife Conflicts – Identifying the problems and possible solutions’ concluded in Sikkim on Sunday.
Organised by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the workshop was aimed to learn ways of conserving biodiversity, including wildlife.
It also aimed to try and understand the reasons behind the human-animal conflict, which has been causing severe problems in various areas of the country.
The workshop also deliberated on the issue in-depth and find possible solutions to this impending issue.
“Conservation of biodiversity is crucial for India,” said Katsuo Matsumoto, chief representative of JICA India, while addressing the workshop.
“Consequences of biodiversity loss will impact negatively in the livelihoods, health, food security and overall well-being of the human society,” he added.
“JICA has been working to tackle the issue through forestry and biodiversity-related projects with state forest departments since 1991,” he reiterated.
Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project is the first of its kind biodiversity conservation centric project supported by JICA, he added.
He further said that JICA aims to work with a dual conservation strategy that includes conserving protected areas by collaborating with local communities to reduce their impacts on the protected area.
“Our solutions include improving livelihood base through alternative income-generating activities by SHGs and promoting alternative cropping & land-use through an appropriate incentive program,” he reiterated.
The workshop was attended by a number of senior government officials including Speaker LB Das, state forest minister karma Loday Bhutia, and chief secretary SC Gupta among others.