Conflict to Coadaptation: The Spectrum of Coexistence

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Science and Society

Conflict to Coadaptation: The Spectrum of Coexistence

04:00 PM

February 04, 2024

Infosys Science Foundation

RSVP

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Conflict to Coadaptation: The Spectrum of Coexistence

Event

India is uniquely positioned in the world in terms of how we are the most populous and also one of the most biodiverse countries. This apparent tension between conserving biodiversity and ensuring safety and food security of people has been resolved, in part, through our ability to share space with nature around us. The diverse spectrum of interactions and impacts arising out of shared spaces between people and wildlife is what we broadly refer to as Coexistence. In this talk, we take you on a journey across this spectrum where on one end we have cases of extreme hostility towards certain wildlife while the other end portrays religious and cultural reverence towards wild animals despite significant costs to people. We draw on stories and case studies from across India that represent various landscapes, communities, and species to make a case for Coexistence as a strategy to reconcile economic and ecological security.

Speakers

Aritra Kshettry

National Lead, Elephant Conservation. WWF-India

Tarsh Thekaekara

The Shola Trust