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VOL. 11, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Advanced analysis of mining-induced fragmentation and its correlation with human-elephant conflict: A case study of the Hasdeo Arand Forest
Authors
Annapurna Sahu
Abstract
The Hasdeo Arand forest in Chhattisgarh represents one of the final
contiguous deciduous ecosystems in Central India, serving as a critical
biological bridge for megafauna. However, the intensification of coal mining
has triggered a systemic collapse of ecological connectivity. This study
investigates the correlation between mining-induced habitat fragmentation and
the escalation of Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC). Utilizing data from the Forest
Survey of India (FSI, 2021) [1] and the Wildlife Institute of India
(WII, 2021) [3], we analyze the transition of forest patches from
"Core" to "Periphery" status. The results indicate that
fragmentation is not merely a loss of area but a disruption of behavioral
ecology. Mining infrastructure creates "Edge Effects" that degrade
habitat quality up to 12km beyond lease boundaries (Sonter et al., 2017)
[9]. The bisection of ancient migratory corridors forces elephants into
human-dominated landscapes, increasing crop-raiding and retaliatory encounters
(WTI, 2017; Banda et al., 2021) [5]. Socio-economic
externalities, including the loss of ecosystem services and tribal social
capital, are found to outweigh immediate fiscal gains from coal extraction
(Kumar et al., 2023) [27]. The study concludes that
reinstating "No-Go" zones and adopting "Landscape-Level
Management" is imperative to prevent irreversible biodiversity loss.
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Pages:29-30
How to cite this article:
Annapurna Sahu "Advanced analysis of mining-induced fragmentation and its correlation with human-elephant conflict: A case study of the Hasdeo Arand Forest". International Journal of Advanced Research and Development, Vol 11, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 29-30
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