In view of the extreme summer expected this year, the Forest Department and NGOs have joined hands to discuss plan of action to prevent human-animal conflicts in forests coming under the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Tamil Nadu. The meeting primarily discussed measures to be taken to reduce instances of wild animals, especially elephants, straying into farmlands in search of food and water. Farmlands As per the forecast by Forest Department officials, animal trespasses to human habitations and farmlands may increase this season due to shortfall of rain. On Saturday, eight NGOs working in the field of environment and conservation attended the meeting held with Forest Department officials in Coimbatore. Public participation “NGOs and forest officials from the Nilgiris and Coimbatore attended the meeting. Public participation in preventing human-animal conflict was highlighted at the meeting. Issues such as shortage of water and fodder inside forest, dumping of garbage, and illegal fencing were discussed. Stakeholders like officials from TANGEDCO and PWD also attended the meeting,” said K. Kalidasan, president of environmental organisation Osai. As shortage of water and fodder may trigger animals straying into farmlands and human habitations, Forest Department will focus more on artificial filling of waterholes inside forests. Forest Department officials said that they have already started filling waterholes to prevent animals leaving forests in search of water. TANGEDCO will join hands with Forest Department to prevent illegal electric fencing due to which animals that stray in search of water and food are shocked to death. Dumping of garbage Efforts have also been made to curb dumping of garbage, especially plastics, inside forests. District Forest Officer S. Ramasubramanian said that similar meetings will be held at frequent intervals to ensure that the joint initiative with NGOs and other stakeholders reduce man-animal conflicts.