Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said that government is working towards a permanent solution to the human-elephant conflict and the public must remain patient
“The government is working towards a permanent solution to the human-elephant conflict. We must be patient,” she said these on Monday while addressing a cheque distribution and exchange meeting held at Madhutila Ecopark in Sherpur where compensation was handed over to victims of the human-elephant conflict.
The adviser said: “Humans are occupying the elephants’ natural habitat, leading to a decrease in their food sources. Instead of planting eucalyptus and other foreign species we must plant native trees that provide food for elephants.”
She further highlighted: “The lives of elephants are as important as human lives. We must restore our forests. The government is not an adversary but a supporter. If natural forests are destroyed we too will suffer. We must replace commercial tree plantations with natural forests.”
She instructed the District Administration and Forest Department to jointly prepare an integrated action plan to resolve the conflict sustainably.
The keynote speaker was internationally renowned wildlife expert Professor Dr Mohammad Ali Reza Khan.
At the event, the adviser handed over a total of Tk6,00,000 to the families of two individuals killed by elephants and Tk3,27,000 to 15 families for crop and property damage.
Additionally, she distributed binoculars, torch lights, hand mics, whistles and other essential gear among members of the Elephant Response Team (ERT).
Earlier, the adviser visited the Daudhara Garo Hills Tourist Center in Nalitabari upazila and the long-term plantation project under Madhutila Range for the fiscal year 2017–18.
Notably, since 2014, compensation totaling Tk91 lakh has been provided to the families of 45 deceased individuals,
Tk10.41 lakh to 34 injured persons and Tk1.6884 crore to 906 families for crop and property damage.
In total, Tk2.7025 crore has been disbursed to 985 affected individuals.