Landscape predictors of human elephant conflicts in Chure Terai Madhesh Landscape of Nepal

• DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2022.100458
• Publication Date: 2022-01-23T06:37:14Z
• Authors: Ashok Kumar Ram; Nabin Kumar Yadav; Naresh Subedi; Bivash Pandav; Samrat Mondol; Binita Khanal; Deepak Kumar Kharal; Hari Bhadra Acharya; Bed Kumar Dhakal; Krishna Prasad Ac...; Hem Sagar Baral; Bhagawan Raj Dahal; Rama Mishra; Dipanjan Naha; Narendra Man Babu...; Lakshminarayanan ...; Babu Ram Lamihhane
• Keywords: Fragmentation

Human elephant conflict (HEC) is rapidly increasing throughout the Asian range countries including Nepal. HEC occurs in form of human deaths and injuries, crop as well property losses. We compiled 10,798 incidents attacks on humans, losses caused by elephants Chure Terai Madhesh Landscape, Nepal, between January 2001 June 2020. interviewed 10.3% total households affected using structured questionnaire. used multivariate analysis to identify landscape predictors associated with HEC. The intensity was high areas higher forest fragmentation, vicinity forests, protected areas, larger coverage seasonal surface water. Landscape heterogeneity, effective mesh size altitude also contributed Socio-economically marginalized communities living close forests are more vulnerable spatial risk map identified Jhapa Koshi eastern region; Parsa Chitwan central region, Bardiya Kanchanpur western region hotspots. Restoration corridor functionality these hotspots could reduce comprehensive understanding from this study provides important insights devise strategies actions for mitigating at level.