In a key decision, the state wildlife board has decided to set up a centre of excellence to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts and to impart knowledge about wildlife health to all the stakeholders, including local villagers, who would be trained in the centre. Divulging details, forest minister Subodh Uniyal told TOI, We want to strike a fine balance between nature and humans.

The main objective of the centre of excellence, which would be the country’s first such centre, is to turn our forests into areas with abundant food and water sources so animals don’t have to venture into human habitations for their needs.

A total of 995 people have died and 4,858 others have sustained injuries in man-animal conflicts since 2000 whenUttarakhandwas carved out from UP. In fact, Uttarakhand is among the top three states, including West Bengal andKarnataka, in terms of human-wildlife conflict.

Meanwhile, the state wildlife board in its 17th meeting chaired by chief ministerPushkar SinghDhami on Tuesday gave its nod to send a proposal to the National Wildlife Board seeking its clearance for ropeway links to major pilgrimage sites, includingKedarnathtemple and Hemkund Sahib. The government had announced a 13-km ropeway project from Sonprayag in Rudraprayag district to Kedarnath. The project will aid pilgrims who have to currently trek a long distance to Kedarnath from Gaurikund.