Wildlife and protected areas management

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Introduction

In developing countries, many people depend directly on natural resources, including wildlife, for their livelihoods and food security. But wildlife causes losses and poses threats to human well-being as well as posing benefits. Wildlife species, such as elephants, crocodiles, primates and large predators, invade human settlements and raid crops, cause damage to personal belongings, injure or kill livestock and can even injure and kill people. The loss of assets, and the cost of the conflict with wildlife in terms of time and energy expended on protection of crops and assets, increase vulnerability and impede economic development of affected communities. The conflicts also cause people to develop a negative attitude towards wildlife management and conservation initiatives proposed by the government or conservation authorities. This in turn can lead to non-cooperation of local communities and increased instances of poaching and other illegal activities.

The causes of the conflict cannot be eliminated either easily or quickly, and are among one of the main threats to the survival and conservation of different species. There is, therefore, an urgent need to find ways to prevent and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts (HWC).

FAO considers HWC from an agricultural, human-centred perspective, and is taking action to find solutions which will increase food security while protecting natural resources upon which the agricultural production systems and livelihoods depends.


Two elephants threatening to charge.

The approach

The approach of FAO is based upon three principles: prevention of the conflict through land use planning, protection through various crop protection methods and mitigation, easement of the conflict when it does occur.

FAO works to strengthen rural communities’ resistance to threats posed by different wildlife species, by:
• investigating and implementing low-technology, cost-effective techniques which deter animals or mitigate the conflict;
• improving the capacity of stakeholders to plan their land use and apply new techniques;
• introducing alternative crops which do not attract problematic wildlife species;
• proposing the establishment of compensation and benefit sharing schemes to mitigate the conflict;
• raising awareness of involved stakeholders of the costs and benefits of co-existing with wildlife.
A farmer holding a chili pepper from his farm.

Activities

The project ‘Ensuring farmers’ livelihoods and food security around Kakum’s Conservation Area’ (TCP/GHA/2905) in Ghana, implemented by FAO in collaboration with Conservation International Ghana, used chili-pepper based techniques developed in Zimbabwe to deter endangered forest elephants from crop-raiding cultivated fields. Moreover, the project enabled the establishment of community patrol units to guard the fields at night, prepared community land use plans, introduced alternative, less-susceptible crops and trained farmers in improved post-harvesting techniques. As a result of project activities, farmers became aware of diverse livelihood options and land use alternatives in addition to cultivation of maize and cacao. Farmers gained knowledge about potential deterrent techniques and, above all, felt empowered to find a solution to the problem of crop-raiding by elephants.
In Mozambique, FAO facilitated a study to formulate strategies to mitigate conflicts between humans and wildlife. The final report provides an overview of the problem and solutions to conflicts with over nine different problem animal species in that country.

In addition to the strategy, a case study was also undertaken in the Cabo Delgado province, to assess the impacts of HWC on food security, and evaluate the variables which caused the conflict.

FAO provided technical assistance to farmers in Serbia, under a livestock project in the mountainous areas of Sanzak, to find non-lethal solutions to the dramatic problem of wolf predation on livestock. Different techniques have been reviewed and recommendations given for immediate application by local communities.

A FAO officer in discussion with people in a village in Mozambique.

Information

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Reports were developed on human-wildlife conflict and its solutions, for four different species: elephant, lion, baboon and crocodile.

Other ongoing activities of FAO relating to HWC involve preventing disease transmission between wild and domesticated animals (e.g. Foot and Mouth Disease, Bird Flu) and facilitating solutions to conflicts between wildlife and livestock over natural resources such as water and grazing land.

Please find more information by going to the 'Information' through the menu on the left.

For information about animal production-environment interactions, please visit the Livestock, Environment And Development Virtual Research and Development Center or the Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES)