Wildlife and protected areas management

Wildlife and protected areas management

Welcome!

This site provides a wealth of information on FAO's activities in wildlife and protected areas management, arranged per topic (follow the menu on the left). Specific information documents can also be found here.

If you do not find what you're looking for, please take a look at the links section of this site, send us an email (see contact us), or ask a question to FAO.                                                                                                                        

 

 

Introduction

FAO’s programme on wildlife and protected area management focuses on issues on the interface of biodiversity conservation and agricultural production. People turn to us with questions such as how to protect crops from elephants, or how to ensure that hunting occurs sustainably so that there will still be animals left in the forest in the futue, or how communities can benefit from natural resource management.

In short, activities focus on topics directly related to agriculture, food production and poverty alleviation:
• Bushmeat and wildlife rearing
• Human-Wildlife Conflicts
• Tourism hunting, eco-tourism and benefit sharing

Because of FAO's global experience and knowledge of topics such as forestry, fisheries and of course agriculture, solutions and innovative approaches to wildlife and protected area management challenges can be readily identified, adapted to site-specific circumstances and implemented at new locations. FAO works increasingly with partner organizations, so that in partnership we can provide the best assistance to countries.


Lion in South Africa

History

FAO started with field projects on wildlife and protected area management in the 1960s. Betweem 1975 and 1996, more than 200 projects related to wildlife and protected areas were implemented in 85 countries. Some important achievements during this phase were the founding of the first two regional wildlife training colleges in Africa: the Mweka Wildlife Training College in the United Republic of Tanzania, for English-speaking Africa, and the Garoua Wildlife Training College in Cameroon, for French-speaking Africa.
During the 1990s FAO’s field programme became smaller because member countries decided that the organisation should focus more on normative (i.e. policy-related) work.

Over the years, two important changes have occurred in wildlife and protected area management:
- Conservation activities have become more complex; instead of just fieldwork, activities now range from formulation of policies and laws to working with local communities to meet their needs.
- Large international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are now implementing field activities, while FAO's focus has shifted more to policy and legislation advice.

FAO continues to be involved in wildlife fieldwork, but in a different way; by looking at those issues where we can make a real difference and by forming partnerships with those organisations that have the knowledge and expertise to implement fieldwork.


Grasscutter being sold at the roadside in Ghana

Approach

Being an organization mandated to raise levels of nutrition, FAO aims to improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy. FAO considers wildlife and protected areas issues from an agricultural, human-centred perspective, and is taking action to find solutions which will increase food security while managing natural resources upon which the agricultural production systems and livelihoods depends and protecting ecosystems for future generations.


FAO officers explaining human-elephant conflict techniques to farmers.

Current activities

FAO’s normative work in support of wildlife and protected area management includes:

• producing publications aimed at facilitating effective management of biological diversity;
• responding to requests for technical advice and assistance;
• working with partners to address unsustainable use of forest wildlife (e.g. the bushmeat crisis);
• working with partners to formulate and implement strategies to prevent or mitigate the human-wildlife conflicts and to promote best practices;
• working with partners to enhance sustainable tourism hunting;
• the production of regional magazines on wildlife and protected areas management: Nature & Faune and Tigerpaper;
• working with partners on the development of wildlife and protected area related projects; 
• contributing to the work of FAO’s Interdepartmental Working Group on Biological Diversity for Food and Agriculture.

 

Recent and current project activities include:

• Central African World Heritage Forest Initiative (CAWHFI) project on protected area management and bushmeat trade, implemented jointly with UNESCO in cooperation with the national governments and  international conservation NGOs;
• review and redrafting of wildlife laws and regulations in Serbia and Kosovo;
• preparation of national bushmeat surveys in Ghana, Guinea and Liberia;
• development of material to facilitate raising of environmental awareness in the Lake Chad Basin;
• a project on sustainable tourism hunting, wildlife management and planning in Morocco;
• participatory development of a policy framework for sustainable wildlife management in Mali;
• support to the wildlife policy and institutions in Caucasus and Central Asia;
• preparation of manuals on human-wildlife conflicts for elephants, lions, baboons and crocodiles;
• support in effective management of wildlife and conservation areas in Mozambique.