.png)
Generating scientific knowledge for the foundation of developing effective conservation interventions and robust policies
India has 670 protected areas (PAs) covering ~5% of its total land area which safeguard its rich biodiversity and fragile ecosystems. Millions of people living inside PAs lack access to basic amenities, face frequent human-wildlife conflict and have insecure housing with unclear land tenure rights. Centre for Wildlife Studies’ proposed research will use advanced remote sensing techniques to evaluate and prioritize areas for assisted voluntary relocation, and the provision of secure housing and land for marginalized communities living in and around PAs in the Western Ghats.
Krithi Karanth is chief conservation scientist at theCentre for Wildlife Studies, and an adjunct faculty member at Duke Universityand India’s National Centre for Biological Sciences. Karanth has been involvedin scientific research and conservation in Asia for the last 21 years, focusingon the human dimensions of conservation. She has conducted macro-level studiesassessing patterns of species distributions and extinctions, impacts ofwildlife tourism, consequences of voluntary resettlement, land use change andunderstanding human-wildlife interactions. Karanth has published more than 90scientific and popular articles and a children's book. Karanth served on theeditorial boards of Conservation Biology, Conservation Letters and Frontiers inEcology and the Environment. Throughout her career, Karanth has mentored over120 young scientists and engaged more than 500 citizen science volunteers.
