Title: Synanthropic corridor: Rethinking Human - Elephant interactions through Community
conservation in Northern Bangladesh
Abstract: The Asian elephant is an endangered species and essential to ecosystem sustainability.
Its population in Bangladesh has deteriorated from 3,274 to 228 over the past century
as a consequence of habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict. The foremost starting
point of Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) is habitat fragmentation due to infrastructure
and agriculture expansion. Human habitat zones interfere with elephant migration routes
and eventually this drives them into human settlements. The objective of this study
is to better understand Human-Elephant Interactions (HEI) and generate a sustainable
masterplan for restoring ruinous forests to support coexistence. It also provides
guidelines for Northern Bangladesh communities to mitigate HEC utilizing natural initiatives
and adaptive interventions. A synanthropic corridor approach correlates fabricating
resilient landscapes, human and wildlife necessities, which reinforce both coexistence
and ecological connectivity. To label HEC in Northern Bangladesh, strategies include
sustainable land-use planning, prolonging undisturbed elephant migration corridors,
originating buffer zones between communities and elephant habitats and rethinking
community growth should be taken by the authority to restore forests. Furthermore,
for coexistence and reducing conflicts, initiatives like community-based monitoring
and infrastructure refinement, elephant friendly lifestyle and support for alternative
sources of income are required. Based on the most HEC ratio and short-term study,
data collection was only possible from the Garo community in Balijuri range, Sherpur,
Bangladesh, a community that faces significant challenges due to HEC. This outcome
is hopeful to harmonize the site’s context, the distinctive architectural features
of the community and the synanthropic living conditions, fostering a cohesive and
sustainable built environment.
Landscape Architecture
-
Address
Weeks Hall, 1398 University Ave, Lubbock, TX 79406 -
Phone
806.742.2858 -
Email
larc.admin@ttu.edu