In the Kerala interim state budget for 2026–27, the allocation for the Forest Department has been reduced from ₹305 crore to ₹288.6 crore, drawing attention amid ongoing concerns over rising human–wildlife conflicts in the state’s forest fringe areas. This reduction — part of the government’s broader fiscal planning — comes even as authorities emphasise enhanced strategies to address wildlife challenges that have increasingly affected rural communities and farmers.
During the budget speech, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal underscored Kerala’s proactive steps to mitigate human–wildlife conflict, noting that the state has declared such conflict a special state disaster and provides some of the highest compensation payouts in the country for victims of animal encounters.
The budget documents also outline targeted funds within the overall forestry allocation to support conservation infrastructure, with ₹50 crore earmarked for forest protection facilities and ₹5 crore set aside for the ‘Big Tree Plantations’ project, intended to enhance forest cover and generate additional revenue.
Officials have noted that Kerala’s rising human–wildlife conflict is partly due to successful conservation efforts that have led to larger wildlife populations and expanded habitats, bringing animals like elephants, wild boar and leopards closer to human settlements. However, critics say the interim budget’s overall cut to the department does not clearly spell out new tactics to reduce forest fragmentation — a key driver of conflict in high-range areas where agricultural lands abut dense forests.
In recent months, the Forest Department has been advancing initiatives such as Mission FFW (Food, Fodder and Water) to ensure wildlife have sufficient natural resources within forests during dry months, aiming to reduce their movement into villages.
Authorities have also advocated for closer coordination with the central government to update wildlife protection regulations and support mitigation infrastructure. The debate over resource prioritisation reflects the complex balance Kerala seeks to strike between conservation goals and the safety and livelihoods of its rural population.
News as reported
