Human-wildlife negative interaction is a serious livelihood and conservation concern in areas that are densely populated as well as rich in biodiversity. This study analyses the impacts of safer and energy-efficient livelihood practices - goat and poultry rearing and improved cooking stoves (ICS) - in reducing forest dependency of local communities and strengthening human-tiger coexistence across three villages within Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India. Forest visitation, fuelwood harvesting and income for pre- & post-intervention durations (2012–2018 & 2019–2025, respectively) were assessed through key-informant interview survey with 30% of beneficiaries. Forest visitation for fuelwood harvesting and fuelwood harvesting reduced by about 70% ( p < 0.001) and 30% ( p < 0.001) p er month, respectively. Average household income increased by 20-25% per month ( p < 0.001). The estimated average annual human-tiger negative interactions in the three project villages declined by 46%. The results indicate that combining locally appropriate safer and energy-efficient livelihood practices improves safety and financial status of vulnerable forest-dependent communities. In the context of the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, which is also a Tiger Reserve and a National Park, we discuss how such community-based initiatives contribute to garner public support towards strengthening social capacity for human-tiger coexistence.
Bajpai et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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