National Symposium on Human-Elephant Conflict

Organised by Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ)

Human-Elephant Conflict in Sri Lanka:

Lessons Learnt during 2000 – 2020

Human-elephant conflict is a complex environmental, socio-economic and political concern affecting the country. Nature of the conflict varies geographically and its course varies temporally. Habitat destruction continues as the main driver behind the conflict. Despite scientific research, conservation policies, law enforcement and community engagement around the topic, conflict regrettably remains. As an organisation committed to environmental justice over 16 years, CEJ is going to review the country’s experience of human-elephant conflict in the last two decades with the objective of identifying more realistic approaches towards coexistence.  

Thematic areas:

• Human and elephant behaviour related to conflict 

Humans and elephants compete for resources, mainly land, for their existence. The encroaching behaviour of competing humans is challenged by the acquired behaviour of wild elephants. This conflicting circumstance affects the parties involved in varying degrees. Understanding human and elephant behaviour that outlines the conflict is of great significance in resolving the matter.  

• Impacts of conflict and conflict management on people and elephants

Conflict is a stressor, both physical and psychological, and the outcomes are always devastating. Some costs of the conflict are intangible. Conflict management involves multi-stakeholder levels and must be guided by conservation policies. Nevertheless, certain mitigation measures can adversely affect both people and elephants.    

• Methods appropriate for mitigating human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka

The cost of mitigating human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka is considerable. Government and non-government sectors annually spend wealth in this regard to get mixed results. Thus, it is timely to evaluate the effectiveness of conflict mitigation methods adopted over the last two decades. Effective methods should do justice to the environment, elephants, and people.

Symposium will be held on

 19^th March 2021

Important Dates:

Deadline for submission of abstracts

20^th Nov. 2020

Deadline for submission of manuscripts

05^th Feb. 2021

Deadline to receive the final version of manuscripts

19^th Feb. 2021

Submit your abstracts to cejabstracts@gmail.com

Contact: Madushani Mob: 0766067789 Tel:  011 2683282

For more details
visit www.ejustice.lk
Sponsored by Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF)