Creating Coexistence Between Humans And Wildlife
This summary of proceedings from the 5th IUCN World Parks Congress’s “Creating Coexistence” workshop describes various opinions, opportunities, and challenges regarding ways that conservationists, social scientists, researchers, et al should address human-wildlife conflict.
“Human-wildlife conflict occurs when the needs and behavior of wildlife impact negatively on the goals of humans or when the goals of humans negatively impact the needs of wildlife. These conflicts may result when wildlife damage crops, injure or kill domestic animals, threaten or kill people,” according to the World Parks Congress. Conflicts escalate when people feel the needs or values of wildlife are given priority over their own needs, or they are inadequately empowered to deal with the conflict. Human-wildlife conflict is increasing in frequency and severity. Experts predict it will continue to escalate.
The “lessons learned” and “guiding principles” resulting from the workshops conducted at this conference include:
- Human-wildlife conflict often involves human-human conflict.
- Biology is part of the solution, but not sufficient by itself.
- Perceptions of conflict matter and solutions must address them.
- Balancing global insights and local variability.
- Successful responses require the use of multiple and adaptive tools.
- Demonstrating genuine effort is a valuable first step.
Numerous “needs, gaps, and next steps” were also identified at conference workshops:
- Training and capacity building through adaptive management, applied research, and communication and information exchange.
- Strengthening of resources by creating equitable, effective structures and processes, third party facilitation, and funding.
- Creation of a global toolbox from resources, lessons learned and principles to form a dynamic, innovative and readily available “toolbox” for practitioners and stakeholders.
- Improve recognition of human-wildlife conflict.