Disappearing Opportunities

HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT

As their habitat dwindles, animals are forced to forage outside their traditional forest range and move into areas populated by humans. Fatal encounters with wild animals like elephants, venomous snakes, and big cats occur in and around degraded forest areas.

Conflict between humans and forest elephants is common, particularly in Asia. Although conservationists have worked with authorities on practices and approaches to keep elephants away from crops, while providing for their safety, many farmers still find it easier to simply kill the offending animals. Sometimes problem elephants are killed opportunistically for their ivory.

In Indonesia a series of tiger attacks on illegal loggers made headlines in 2009. The loggers were killed while cutting timber from protected rainforests in Sumatra.

While predator attacks on livestock can be a problem, research has show that estimates of livestock losses are frequently overstated, especially when conditions are poor and compensation is offered for such losses.

Review questions:

• Why are seconday forest products important?

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Continued / Next: Climatic Role of Forests