"Wildlife-friendly Community: Model for Human-wildlife Conflict Resolution"

Human-wildlife conflicts in the buffer zone of Huai Kha Khaeng Willdife Sanctuary were on a rise both in numbers and in terms of more intense retaliation when wild animals damage the cash crops. It had jeopardized community livelihoods and also threatened the last stronghold of Banteng which is an indicator for tiger’s existence. With support of small grant from UNDP, the pioneer community members formed as Wildlife-friendly Community (WFC), adopted the alternative income generation that replaces the encroached farm land with mono-cropping, with higher productive organic farming. Then, turning the encroached area back to wildlife habitat with development of wildlife food plots, maintained and guarded by community members. The wildlife appearance makes the community-based wildlife tourism feasible. Marketing after the first crops of organic vegetables is expanding. Comparison of higher benefits from the less farmland but higher productivity ensures the confidence and increasing number of the WFC members.