4.6. Reduce and manage human-wildlife conflict and its drivers through a holistic, cross-sectoral approach.
As human populations and their need for living space and resources continue to grow, interactions between people and wildlife become more widespread, potentially leading to increased human-wildlife conflict. such as damage to crops, livestock, property, health, and even loss of life. Retaliatory killing of the species involved can lead to decline and local extinction. Furthermore, the impacts of HWC on food security and livelihoods fall mainly on disadvantaged and marginalised rural communities. Resolving these conflicts involves both conservation and sustainable development experts.
Subactions
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4.6.1. Develop holistic strategies and associated policies to prevent and manage human-wildlife conflict (HWC).
Solutions and case studies
Securing Sustainable Lion Populations and their Connectivity through Promoting Coexistence with Communities in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Lions like any other big carnivores need large, connected areas to thrive, but in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, human-lion conflict—especially due to lion-livestock attacks—has prompted to retaliatory lion killings. To address this, KopeLion developed the Ilchokuti model which involve training and employing local pastoralist young warriors from Maasai and Tatoga pastoralist communities. These trained individuals monitor lions, warn herders of the presence of collared/non-collared lions, recover lost livestock, and respond to conflicts. By reducing threats to both lions and livestock, the Ilchokuti help foster coexistence and build community support for conservation. Their work has improved tolerance for lions, reduced lion killings, stopped traditional lion hunts and enabled safe movement for dispersing lions across village lands. As a result, lions are increasingly seen as a valued part of the landscape, and the Ilchokuti model is now a vital part of securing sustainable lion populations and connectivity in the area.
Conflict resolution strategy for Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Eastern DR Congo is one of the most difficult areas on the planet, with over 20 years of civil unrest, displacement,… WCS, GRASP and IISD developed a Conflict Sensitive Conservation methodology with national park managers. It focuses on analysis of key themes of conflict, analysis of their causes and effects, identification and mapping of stakeholders and how they affect/are affected by conflicts, and development of conflict resolution strategy.
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4.6.2. Increase national and local capacity to prevent and manage HWC.
Solutions and case studies
Conflict resolution strategy for Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Eastern DR Congo is one of the most difficult areas on the planet, with over 20 years of civil unrest, displacement,… WCS, GRASP and IISD developed a Conflict Sensitive Conservation methodology with national park managers. It focuses on analysis of key themes of conflict, analysis of their causes and effects, identification and mapping of stakeholders and how they affect/are affected by conflicts, and development of conflict resolution strategy.
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4.6.3. Integrate standards of HWC prevention, management, and coexistence into industry certification schemes.
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4.6.4. Develop and implement standardised HWC monitoring protocols, ideally at national level, utilizing available technologies (e.g. SMART).
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4.6.5. Increase awareness, knowledge exchange, and adaptive management of HWC approaches, increasing their efficacy.
Solutions and case studies
Mass-media radio drama in Rwanda protects gorilla habitat
In Rwanda, Population Media Center (PMC) wrote and produced Umurage Urukwiye (“Rwanda’s Brighter Future”) in Kinyarwanda, one of Rwanda’s official languages. This 312-episode radio serial drama aired April 2007 to July 2009 and was rebroadcast October 2012 to October 2014. One of Umurage Urukwiye’s storylines role modeled the preservation of forests, natural resources, and mountain gorillas, and motivated the audience to protect and rehabilitate the park forests.
ConCiencia – Conservation through Love //Guerilla Environmental Education
We work with locals to form closer bonds and vigilance over nature by creating nature camps in different locations.
We include fun, purposeful family activities. Children and parents form the confidence to spend time in nature and explore.
By developing teaching resources and collaborating with schools, we can slowly insert immersive nature experiences in curriculum. It is important to have changes in policy to scale this kind of education approach.
Conflict resolution strategy for Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Eastern DR Congo is one of the most difficult areas on the planet, with over 20 years of civil unrest, displacement,… WCS, GRASP and IISD developed a Conflict Sensitive Conservation methodology with national park managers. It focuses on analysis of key themes of conflict, analysis of their causes and effects, identification and mapping of stakeholders and how they affect/are affected by conflicts, and development of conflict resolution strategy.