Thumbnail Image

Spatial planning to ensure future coexistence between wildlife and people

Copyright licence

Year of publication 2023

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 13 p.

Author FAO; IUCN SSC HWCCSG

Publisher FAO ;

Category Brochure

To cite or share https://doi.org/10.4060/cc7365en

Synopsis (short abstract) This case study highlights Ecoexist Trust's efforts in Botswana's Okavango Panhandle to foster coexistence between people and elephants. The region faces conflicts due to shared space between 35,000 people and 20,000 elephants. Ecoexist employs a holistic approach, conducting research to identify critical elephant pathways and overlap with human activities. They collaborated with land authorities to develop the Land Use Conflict Information Strategy (LUCIS), strategically mapping agricultural areas away from frequent elephant movement paths. LUCIS helps allocate land effectively, preventing conflicts and supporting farmers in protecting fields. Trust-building and ongoing research were crucial to success. Ecoexist engaged stakeholders to incorporate preferences in land allocation. Positive outcomes include identifying suitable agricultural areas and scaling up the approach to other regions. Challenges include government staff turnover and adaptability to different contexts. Overall, Ecoexist's spatial planning approach promotes coexistence, reduces conflicts, and supports communities in the Okavango Panhandle.

Statutory body / Meeting title African Forestry and Wildlife Commission (AFWC)

Cite this content as:

FAO and IUCN SSC HWCCSG. 2023. Spatial planning to ensure future coexistence between wildlife and people. Rome.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cc7365en

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure
    Planning for human-wildlife coexistence 2023
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The Projeto Onças do Iguaçu (Jaguars of Iguaçu Project) aims to protect the jaguar population in the Iguaçu National Park (INP) in Brazil and Iguazú National Park in Argentina, fostering coexistence with local communities. The planning for coexistence involved a stakeholder analysis, workshop, and structured approach. Using a Human-Wildlife Interaction (HWI) diagram, current interactions were categorized as conflict, overexploitation, nuisance, or coexistence. Scoping and goal-setting exercises defined the desired changes, targeting family farmers, increasing jaguar numbers, and shifting community attitudes. A system map identified causal relationships affecting interactions, revealing leverage points for intervention. A Theory of Change (ToC) outlined the sequence of events to achieve outcomes, guiding data collection for monitoring. Lessons learned included aligning actions with goals, conducting strategic planning before activities, involving staff with shared goals, and utilizing baseline data. The process fostered teamwork and ownership among project members. The planning process provided a clear roadmap for the project, promoting coexistence between people and jaguars while protecting the region's jaguar population.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure
    Building communities’ capacities to coexist with wildlife 2022
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The case study comes from Assam, India, where the pilot project was established between Chester Zoo (then North of England Zoological Society), United Kingdom and EcoSystems - India, a regional non-governmental organization (NGO), to learn about the conflict and determine the best way towards sustainable solutions with the impacted communities. This pilot phase became the catalyst for the Assam Haathi Project, which worked with local communities to understand the situation further and identify solutions for addressing the issue collaboratively. The project ran for 14 years, from 2004 to 2018, and conducted many activities to address the human-elephant conflict. This case study highlights a subset of activities that have been conducted by the Assam Haathi Project.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure
    Developing a community guardian programme to reduce livestock depredation 2023
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The case study focuses on the Trans-Kalahari Predator Programme (TKPP), part of Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, aiming to reduce human-wildlife conflict, particularly livestock depredation, near Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. The TKPP developed a community guardian program called the Long Shields Lion Guardian Programme (LSLGP). Local men and women were recruited to serve as guardians and protect livestock from predators. They used GPS collars on potential problem lions, alerting farmers via WhatsApp to move their livestock when lions approached. The guardians also hazed lions using noise makers. Additionally, the TKPP introduced mobile communal bomas to protect livestock and fertilize crop fields. The LSLGP resulted in a 50% reduction in livestock losses by lions, and fewer lions were killed in retaliation. Crop yields in fields with mobile bomas increased by up to 50%, improving food security. Local communities showed a positive attitude towards coexisting with lions and were willing to pay for the programs. Lessons learned include the importance of local researchers, communication, community involvement, and flexibility in implementation.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.