Forest conservation faces growing challenges amid human-wildlife conflict: KFRA

The Northern Circle Conference of the Kerala Forest Rangers Association (KFRA) has expressed concern that effective forest and wildlife conservation is becoming more challenging due to “politically motivated misinformation and pressure” amid escalating human-wildlife conflict.

The conference, which was held at Gibbs Hall in Mananthavady on Saturday (July 11), was inaugurated by Santhosh Kumar, Director of Forests, North Wayanad Division.

The General Session opened with condolences to the victims of the Kalladi debris slide disaster. The delegates also discussed the importance of preserving the Western Ghats in light of a series of devastating landslides in Wayanad in recent years, including the Puthumala and Mundakkai-Chooralmala disasters.

The conference stressed that all development activities in environmentally sensitive areas should be preceded by detailed scientific studies that take into account soil properties, water absorption capacity, drainage schemes, pipeline potential and other geotechnical factors, with the safety of people and property a priority.

The conference discussed the Kerala Promotion of Growth of Trees in Non-Forest Areas (Amendment) Act, 2005. While the existing provisions provide certain benefits to farmers by allowing felling and transportation of certain types of trees under prescribed conditions, the participants observed that these provisions are increasingly misused. Unscrupulous traders allegedly exploit farmers by buying timber at low prices and transporting large quantities of timber, including immature trees, using self-declarations without proper field-level verification.

The conference expressed concern that uncontrolled removal of shade trees could adversely affect coffee and pepper cultivation, tourism, local climate and water availability in Wayanad. She called for appropriate legislative measures to regulate such practices and stressed the need to create greater awareness among farmers about the ecological importance of all types of trees.

The conference elected the following office bearers for the term 2026-2027: K. Hashif (President), M. Prabeesh M. (Vice President), Rose Mary Jose (Secretary), TK Vandhana (Joint Secretary) and Sanoop Krishnan (Treasurer). AP Sreejith, P. Ratheesh, EK Jisha and T. Nasna were elected as members of the Executive Committee.

KFRA President Rajeev Kumar presided.

Published – 11 Jul 2026 19:11 IST