To effectively and responsively address the issue of HWC, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), the Government of India has facilitated the development of the National Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan (HWC-NAP) for India and guidelines taking a participatory, integrated, and inclusive approach.

HWC-NAP is a guiding document facilitating a holistic approach to mitigating HWC, inclusively and sustainably, and is supported by four supplementary frameworks:

• Supplementary Framework on Establishment and Capacity Development of HWC Mitigation Response Teams;
• Common Framework for Developing State Human-Wildlife Conflict Strategy and Action Plans: A Coordinated Approach towards Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict in India;
• Common Framework for Developing Division-level HWC Management Action Plans: A Coordinated Approach towards Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict in India;
• Supplementary Framework: Legislative Framework for National Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) Mitigation Strategy & Action Plan.

Key elements of the process of development of HWC-NAP included a systematic effort to assess the existing HWC situation—magnitude, impacts, effectiveness, and wildlife-friendliness of existing mitigation measures, robust mechanisms for consultation with the key stakeholders to develop a common understanding and shared vision, identification of strategic priorities, an action plan, and mechanisms to monitor progress and results.

The HWC-NAP presents an opportunity and framework to mainstream HWC mitigation in policies, plans and programmes of the forest sector and other sectors and, at all levels of governance (national, state and local), to ensure harmonious co-existence and overall well-being of humans and wildlife, conservation of ecosystem services and sustainable economic development. This approach is consistent with Indian tradition of living in harmony with nature, the Vision for New India @75 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.