Conference on Advancing Innovation in Human–Wildlife Coexistence in Bhutan

Background and Rationale

Human–wildlife interactions are intensifying across shared landscapes as ecological, social, and economic systems continue to evolve. Expanding infrastructure, changing land use, agricultural transformation, climate variability, and demographic shifts are reshaping the interface between people and wildlife, making coexistence both more important and more complex to achieving conservation and sustainable development goals.

In Bhutan, where nearly 70% of the country's land remains under forest cover and more than half is managed as protected areas and biological corridors, people and wildlife have long shared the same landscapes. This remarkable conservation success has secured globally significant populations of tigers, snow leopards, Asian elephants, Himalayan black bears, common leopards, dholes, and many other species. However, increasing interactions between people and wildlife are placing growing pressures on rural communities, particularly those dependent on subsistence agriculture and livestock. Crop losses, livestock depredation, property damage, and risks to human safety continue to affect livelihoods, food security, and public support for conservation. Human–wildlife conflict has therefore emerged as one of Bhutan's most significant conservation and development challenges.

Bhutan's experience reflects a broader trend across the Eastern Himalaya, where human–wildlife conflict is increasingly recognised as a major conservation and livelihood challenge. Across the region, interactions involving elephants, tigers, leopards, bears, monkeys, and other wildlife are extending beyond protected areas into human-dominated landscapes, highlighting the need for more integrated and adaptive approaches to managing shared landscapes.

While significant investments have been made in mitigation measures, compensation schemes, community engagement, and species conservation, many responses remain reactive, fragmented, and focused on addressing conflict after it occurs. Increasingly complex coexistence challenges require approaches that move beyond isolated interventions towards integrated, adaptive, and systems-based solutions that strengthen governance, stewardship, landscape planning, innovation, financing, learning, and community resilience.

Against this backdrop, the Conference on Advancing Innovation in Human–Wildlife Coexistence provides a platform to explore innovative and holistic approaches for strengthening coexistence systems in Bhutan while drawing on experiences and emerging practices from across the Eastern Himalaya. By bringing together policymakers, practitioners, researchers, communities, conservation organisations, and development partners, the conference aims to foster knowledge exchange, inspire innovation, and identify practical pathways for advancing resilient human–wildlife coexistence in Bhutan while exploring opportunities for regional collaboration on shared coexistence challenges.

Purpose

To advance innovation in HWC management to enable resilient human wildlife coexistence systems in shared landscapes.

The conference will bring forward key species such as elephants, tigers, snow leopards, and agriculture-impacting wildlife as lenses through which to understand coexistence systems. These species illustrate different dimensions of human wildlife interaction, from landscape connectivity and infrastructure pressures to conservation success, livelihood impacts, and everyday coexistence challenges.

Objectives

1. Build a shared understanding of human-wildlife coexistence (HWC), including key challenges, complexities, and opportunities across ecological, operational, and financial dimensions.
2. Showcase case studies from the region that highlight practical experiences, best practices, and lessons learned in managing coexistence.
3. Share and learn from innovative approaches from the region and beyond and inspire new ways of addressing HWC challenges.
4. Explore pathways for strengthening sustainable coexistence approaches, including governance, stewardship, and financing dimensions.
5. Foster regional learning and collaboration to support more effective and resilient human-wildlife coexistence systems.

Program Design

The conference is designed as a three-day learning journey that takes participants from understanding the complexity of human–wildlife coexistence, to exploring holistic pathways and innovations for coexistence, and finally to translating innovation into collective action for strengthening coexistence systems in Bhutan while drawing on experiences from across the Eastern Himalaya.

01-Day 1: Confronting Complexity

Focus: Understanding Human Wildlife Coexistence Systems

Day 1 will build a shared understanding of the ecological, social, institutional, and landscape dimensions of human–wildlife coexistence. Participants will examine the drivers, patterns, and impacts of human–wildlife interactions, explore why conventional conflict-response approaches are often insufficient, and establish the foundation for more integrated, holistic, and systems-based approaches to coexistence.

02-Day 2: Exploring Holistic and Innovative Approaches

Focus: Exploring innovation to achieve Human Wildlife Coexistence

Building on the understanding developed on Day 1, the second day will explore holistic pathways and innovative approaches for strengthening coexistence systems. Through case studies, expert dialogue, and practical examples, participants will examine how governance, community stewardship, ecological science, technology, adaptive management, sustainable financing, and landscape-level approaches can work together to address the underlying drivers of conflict and strengthen long-term coexistence.

03-Day 3: Dialogue on Pathways Forward

Focus: from innovation to collective action for coexistence

Day 3 will create space for reflection and dialogue on what the insights from the conference mean for Bhutan and the broader Eastern Himalayan region. The final day will shift the conversation from innovation to implementation. Building on the insights and innovations explored throughout the conference, participants will reflect on how holistic approaches can be translated into coordinated action, strengthened partnerships, and long-term coexistence outcomes. Through dialogue on integrated coexistence approaches, community experiences, monitoring and learning systems, financing, and collaboration, the conference will identify priorities and pathways for strengthening human–wildlife coexistence in Bhutan while exploring opportunities for continued learning and regional cooperation across the Eastern Himalaya.