Frontliners’ tales of human-wildlife interactions in the Himalayan mid-hills: A workshop report

The International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) organised a two-day consultative workshop in Phuntsholing, Bhutan, focusing on human-wildlife conflict (HWC) management in the Himalayan mid-hills, a region often overlooked in favour of the foothills where human-elephant conflicts dominate. The workshop brought together key officials from Bhutan, India and Nepal to synthesise discussions across five thematic areas: Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI), Stakeholders and Partnerships, Risk Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Sustainability and Scaling of Solutions. The meeting highlighted stark gender disparities in HWC impacts, with women disproportionately affected due to their roles in resource collection and agriculture, yet marginalised in decision-making. Socio-cultural norms, caste hierarchies and financial constraints further restricted their participation. Children, the elderly and persons with disabilities also faced heightened risks. Stakeholder mapping identified NGOs, international donors, the private sector and media as crucial partners in mitigation, with varying degrees of involvement across countries. Risk management strategies emphasised species-specific deterrents, gender-inclusive rapid response teams and landscape-level interventions. Community-driven M&E systems, supported by technology (e.g. drones, AI cameras), were deemed essential for tracking conflict trends and intervention effectiveness. Sustainability hinged on strengthening local ownership, assured funding and policy integration. Persistent challenges included gender inequity, conflicting stakeholder interests and weak M&E systems. Future directions advocate for institutional reforms (e.g. gender quotas), alternative livelihoods and transboundary collaboration. The workshop underscored the need for inclusive, adaptive strategies to foster sustainable human-wildlife co-existence in the Himalayan mid-hills.