The Athagarh Forest Division in Odisha has recently taken a unique initiative aimed at reducing the escalating man-elephant conflict. The authorities have begun casting seed balls, also known as seed bombs, in various reserve forest areas to augment the food availability for wild elephants. This action was triggered by the rising instances of elephants wandering out of their habitats and damaging human settlements in their quest for food.
A Community Effort to Protect Both Humans and Elephants
In an impressive show of community participation, villagers who often suffer from elephant attacks have volunteered to prepare the bamboo seed balls. These are then scattered across 38 reserve forests that fall under the Athagarh Forest Division. The increase in bamboo plantations is projected to cater to the needs of the elephants, thereby reducing their need to wander into human settlements.
Athagarh Forest Division is a hotspot for high levels of man-elephant conflict. The elephants frequently invade nearby villages, causing extensive damage to standing paddy crops, fruit-bearing trees, and vegetable plants. The situation escalates when humans become victims of these conflicts.
Seed Bombing: A Strategic Solution
A seed bomb is a composite of compost, clay, and seeds. It serves as a vehicle for the seeds, facilitating their transportation to hard-to-reach areas. The compost offers essential nutrients for the seeds during their germination and subsequent growth, while the clay provides solidity to the seed bomb.
In 2019, the Athagarh division implemented this technique by using 950 kg of bamboo seeds, which exhibited a survival rate between 50-60%.
Implications of Seed Bombing on Conservation Efforts
Seed bombing is employed for reforestation and re-vegetation of fragile ecosystems. It involves spraying seed balls using aerial devices, such as planes, helicopters, or drones, in a method known as aerial seeding.
This technique has been adopted in other regions of India as well. For instance, Udaipur was chosen to experiment with seed bombing to increase its forest cover. Similarly, the Haryana government used aerial seeding techniques to enhance green cover in the State’s Aravalli region.
Moving Towards Coexistence
India boasts a substantial population of diverse wildlife, including tigers, Asian elephants, leopards, sloth bears, gaurs, among others. Restricting these animals to protected areas can be challenging. Therefore, communities must be motivated to shift from conflict to coexistence with wildlife through coordinated and collaborative conservation actions.
In this context, adopting an inclusive development approach that prioritizes environmental conservation could present a viable solution to mitigate man-animal conflicts. This strategy bolsters efforts towards achieving long-term coexistence and preserving biodiversity.
The recent initiative undertaken by the Odisha’s Athagarh Forest Division underlines the viability and effectiveness of seed bombing in enhancing food availability for wildlife within their habitats. It presents a replicable model for mitigating human-wildlife conflict and promoting coexistence.
