Cost of human-elephant conflict and perceptions of compensation: evidence from Odisha, India

Odisha, an eastern Indian state, has reported an increasing number of human-elephant conflicts in recent years. Odisha's economic survey (2014-15) reveals that, up until January 2014, about 42,371.86-hectares of forest land had been destroyed for developmental activities. The loss of natural habitat has increased the frequency of conflict. The household survey conducted in nine villages within the Nilagiri forest range, captured various costs of conflict such as crop damage, human fatalities and injury, property damage, and livestock depredation. Findings suggested that crop-raiding was persistent and severe, which threatened food security and livelihoods. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified factors influencing perceptions of the adequacy of compensation. Results show that respondents were less likely to say that compensation amounts were adequate if they had attended more than five years of schooling; if they had an annual family income greater than INR 13,500; and if the amount of compensation was more than INR 12,500.

Automated summary

Odisha, an eastern Indian state, has seen a rise in human-elephant conflicts in recent years due to the destruction of forest land for developmental activities, leading to the loss of natural habitat. The costs of conflict include crop damage, human fatalities and injury, property damage, and livestock depredation, especially the severe and persistent crop-raiding that threatens food security and livelihoods. The study found that respondents who had more than five years of schooling, a family income greater than INR 13,500, and compensation amounts exceeding INR 12,500 were less likely to perceive the compensation as adequate.