Subsistence Farmers’ Understanding of the Effects of Indirect Impacts of Human Wildlife Conflict on Their Psychosocial Well-Being in Bhutan

Abstract

Indirect impacts of Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC) are largely ignored, poorly understood, and scantly reported in the literature on HWC. Subsistence farmers in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan experience an increasing intensification of HWC impacts. Working across four districts representing different geographic regions of the country, we explored the perceived indirect impacts of HWC and how they affect the well-being and happiness of subsistence farmers using qualitative interviews (n = 48) and focus group discussions (n = 8). We conducted a qualitative thematic analysis. Based on respondent’s explanations, we coded the data according to effect of indirect impacts on human, social, financial, physical, natural, and psychological capitals. Mental distress, constant worries about food insecurity, fears for physical safety, frustration of movement restriction due to fear of being attack by wildlife, feelings of economic insecurity and anger over loss of crop and livestock due to wild predators affect the psychological health and well-being of research participants. Vulnerabilities related to gender and wealth status further deepen the effect of indirect impacts. Policies designed to address HWC should incorporate an understanding of the effects of indirect impacts of HWC and should focus on female-headed and poor households to reduce the negative effects of wildlife impacts.

Exploring Human–Wildlife Conflict and Implications for Food Self-Sufficiency in Bhutan

“…This is significant, as subsistence farmers grow crops for direct home consumption. Yeshey et al [54] assert that losing crops to wildlife reduces food production, which translates to increased vulnerability of households' food self-sufficiency.…”

“…For example, tiger (Panthera tigris) is identified as one of the characteristic fauna of the sub-tropical zone, but tigers are also recorded in alpine forests [69]. Similarly, wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are reported as problematic animals throughout the country by farming communities [54,56,62,63].…”

Economic Loss Value of Human-wildlife Conflict at the Management Section of National Park (MSNP) VI Besitang, Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP)

“…19,740,000. Loss of income due to human-wildlife conflict seriously impacts psychological conditions such as fear, anger, stress, worry, and frustration [7].…”

“…[6]. Human-wildlife conflicts can affect the psychological aspects of communities in affected areas, with intense emotional symptoms like fear, stress, worry, frustration, and anger evident [7]. Furthermore, species most frequently involved in conflicts have a higher risk of extinction [8].…”

Climate and humans interact to shape the fire regime of a chir pine forest in eastern Bhutan

“…forests have been heavily influenced by human activities such as grazing, resin tapping, and harvesting of lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus Steud. ), which provide cash and non-cash income that support rural livelihoods (Choden et al 2021;Yeshey et al 2022;Wangchuk et al 2023). Prior to the nationalization of the forest in 1969 (RGOB 1969), the burning of forest undergrowth was traditionally practiced by farmers engaged in shifting cultivation and pasture management (Dorji et al 2006).…”