Gangtok, May 5: The Sikkim government has approached the Union ministry of environment and forests to compensate farmers for crop damage caused by animals straying out of forests.

The state forest and wildlife management minister, S. B. Subedi, today claimed that the Sikkim forests were teeming with wild animals, which were causing the menace.

“Over the past 20 years there has been an increase in wildlife population along with the increase in forest cover,” Subedi said at the inaugural session of a weeklong workshop. Forest officers and the members of eco-development and forest protection committees attended the workshop being held in Singtam, 30km from here.

Supporting the minister, the state’s principal chief conservator of forests and forest secretary, S. . Lachungpa, said the growth in wildlife population in terms of figures was yet to be worked out. “However, more sightings of animals like bear, wild boar and deer in recent times and reports of man-animal conflict and crop damage are sure ways to say that there has been an increase in the population of animals.”

The other reason for a flourishing wildlife population is the ban on grazing in forest areas. “The ban has increased the fodder and fruits in forests. An almost end to hunting of wild animals is also a major contributing factor for the growth,” the forest secretary said.

According to Lachungpa, the army’s involvement in conserving nature is the other factor. “We get regular feedback from them about sightings of the once rare musk deer and blue sheep. This helps us keep track of animals living in high altitudes,” he added.

The official said the proposal for crop compensation had been sent to the Centre. However, no exact amount had been specified. “This will be assessed only after the ministry okays our proposal. The compensation rates will be determined according to crop rates set by the agriculture and horticulture departments,” he said.

In the workshop, the minister announced that the final phase of the three-year green mission would begin shortly after a state-level coordination meeting.

The mission launched in 2006 envisaged a tree plantation drive along all roadsides and vacant land in the state. More than 600,000 saplings had been planted in the first two years, he claimed.

The chief wildlife warden, N.T. Bhutia, said today’s workshop aimed at sensitising people at the grassroots level in preparation of a wildlife management plan. The workshop has been organised by the state forest department.