Wildlife Conservation Perspective of Fringe Villagers …
289
living in close proximity to protected areas show a strong negative attitude towards
wildlife (Newmark et al. 1994). Those who incur wildlife damage have more negative
attitudes relative to those who incur fewer damages (Shibia 2010). Socio-economic
dependency of rural communities on natural resources very often for livelihood purposes leads to negative attitudes towards conservation (Masozera 2002). In fact, the
massive network of wildlife sanctuaries widely hailed as examples of successful
conservation have often had a negative impact on the lives of the surrounding human
population (Guha and Gadgil 1992). Moreover, rising human population, intensified land use (Ngure 1995), human pressure on animals, modification of natural
resources, habitat fragmentation (Sukumar 1994) and lack of foresight in the implementation of policies have been linked with disputes affecting such rural communities
and their socio-economic development. Information on perceptions and attitudes of
local communities living in and around protected areas is important to identify proper
management programmes and strategies that best suit the conservation of biodiversity alongside the socio-economic development of local communities dependent on
forests for their livelihood (Heinen 1993; Infield and Namara 2001; Allendorf 2007;
Kideghesho et al. 2007). This understanding is also vital for averting and/or resolving
potential human-wildlife conflicts, which otherwise may threaten the success of any
conservation initiative (De Boer and Baquete 1998; Webber et al. 2007). Therefore,
wildlife and biodiversity conservation programmes need to actively involve the local
communities including satisfying their cultural, social and political considerations
in the environment (Newmark et al. 1994).
India’s north eastern region harbours globally significant proportion of wild flora
and fauna as it falls under the Indo-Burma as well as the Eastern Himalayas biodiversity hotspots. The tropical humid climate with average annual rainfall of 3383.50 mm
and average humidity of 78% coupled with its unique geographical position as well as
variable eco-climatic conditions, has blessed this area as one of the richest treasurehouses of floral and faunal wealth. Borail Wildlife Sanctuary is the only wildlife
sanctuary in southern part of Assam. It consists of the North Cachar Reserve Forest
and the Borail Reserve Forest which are classified as tropical moist evergreen and
semi-evergreen forests. The sanctuary is important biologically as it supports the
Cachar Tropical Evergreen Forest and many rare and unique species (Choudhury
1993). A number of tea estates are situated along the periphery of the sanctuary. In
recent times, anthropogenic pressure on forest and wildlife is on the rise because of the
increasing human population around the sanctuary. In the present study, conservation
studies were undertaken among the fringe villagers of Borail Wildlife Sanctuary (i)
to understand their attitude and perception towards forest and wildlife conservation,
and (ii) to assess their socio-economic dependency on forest and wildlife.
289
living in close proximity to protected areas show a strong negative attitude towards
wildlife (Newmark et al. 1994). Those who incur wildlife damage have more negative
attitudes relative to those who incur fewer damages (Shibia 2010). Socio-economic
dependency of rural communities on natural resources very often for livelihood purposes leads to negative attitudes towards conservation (Masozera 2002). In fact, the
massive network of wildlife sanctuaries widely hailed as examples of successful
conservation have often had a negative impact on the lives of the surrounding human
population (Guha and Gadgil 1992). Moreover, rising human population, intensified land use (Ngure 1995), human pressure on animals, modification of natural
resources, habitat fragmentation (Sukumar 1994) and lack of foresight in the implementation of policies have been linked with disputes affecting such rural communities
and their socio-economic development. Information on perceptions and attitudes of
local communities living in and around protected areas is important to identify proper
management programmes and strategies that best suit the conservation of biodiversity alongside the socio-economic development of local communities dependent on
forests for their livelihood (Heinen 1993; Infield and Namara 2001; Allendorf 2007;
Kideghesho et al. 2007). This understanding is also vital for averting and/or resolving
potential human-wildlife conflicts, which otherwise may threaten the success of any
conservation initiative (De Boer and Baquete 1998; Webber et al. 2007). Therefore,
wildlife and biodiversity conservation programmes need to actively involve the local
communities including satisfying their cultural, social and political considerations
in the environment (Newmark et al. 1994).
India’s north eastern region harbours globally significant proportion of wild flora
and fauna as it falls under the Indo-Burma as well as the Eastern Himalayas biodiversity hotspots. The tropical humid climate with average annual rainfall of 3383.50 mm
and average humidity of 78% coupled with its unique geographical position as well as
variable eco-climatic conditions, has blessed this area as one of the richest treasurehouses of floral and faunal wealth. Borail Wildlife Sanctuary is the only wildlife
sanctuary in southern part of Assam. It consists of the North Cachar Reserve Forest
and the Borail Reserve Forest which are classified as tropical moist evergreen and
semi-evergreen forests. The sanctuary is important biologically as it supports the
Cachar Tropical Evergreen Forest and many rare and unique species (Choudhury
1993). A number of tea estates are situated along the periphery of the sanctuary. In
recent times, anthropogenic pressure on forest and wildlife is on the rise because of the
increasing human population around the sanctuary. In the present study, conservation
studies were undertaken among the fringe villagers of Borail Wildlife Sanctuary (i)
to understand their attitude and perception towards forest and wildlife conservation,
and (ii) to assess their socio-economic dependency on forest and wildlife.