Need for Prioritization of Psychological Well-being of Frontline Staff Working for the Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India

Description

DOI: hhttps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21351973

Pijush Kumar Dutta¹ and Prashant Kesharvani² (School of Development, Azim Premji University, Bengaluru¹ and School of Development, Azim Premji University, Bhopal²)

Frontline staff of the Forest Department, responsible for enforcing conservation laws and protecting forest and wildlife areas, are regularly exposed to both operational and organizational stressors. At present, the lack of awareness and understanding of the seriousness of these challenges-by their colleagues as well as senior management-has a direct negative impact on the performance of frontline staff. This commentary highlights some of the difficulties associated with their day-to-day functioning, which severely affect their mental health. It provides an overview of the different types of stressors and trauma they face, along with the coping mechanisms they employ to overcome these challenges. Finally, it recommends a few strategies to support frontline staff in managing these stressors, thereby ensuring the effective management of protected areas.