Human-Wildlife Conflict Management

Human-wildlife conflict can be managed through a variety of approaches. Prevention strategies endeavour to avoid the conflict occurring in the first place and take action towards addressing its root causes. Protection strategies are implemented when the conflict is certain to happen or has already occurred. Mitigation strategies attempt to reduce the level of impact and lessen the problem. The main difference between the options is the moment at which the measure is implemented. By definition management techniques are only cost-effective if the cost of implementing the technique is less than the value of the damage, taking into account the fact that a short period of active management may have a continued effect, by instating longer-term protection of crops or herds. The various management possibilities are presented according to the characteristics of conflict (whether they relate to humans, production, animals and the environment), rather than according to their ability to prevent or mitigate damage. HUMAN MANAGEMENT Community awareness Awareness raising can be carried out in the community at different levels, for instance in schools or in adult education arenas such as farmer field schools. Educating children, coupled with awareness raising among adults through the traditional authority of chiefs and headmen, would certainly be highly cost-effective means of managing conflict. Education and training activities could be directed towards disseminating innovative techniques, building local capacity for conflict prevention and resolution, and increasing public understanding of human-wildlife conflict. Educating rural villagers in practical skills would help them deal with dangerous wild animal species and acquire and develop new tools for defending their crops and livestock. Over time, it would result in a change of behaviour among local populations and would contribute to reduced risks, improvements in local livelihoods and a reduction in their vulnerability. In an optimistic scenario, education and training would promote commitment towards conservation, raise awareness of the essential role of wildlife in ecosystem functioning and its ethical and economic value, as well as its recreational and aesthetic importance. Box 16 provides a few examples of issues which can be developed for awareness campaigns in order to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

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