Conflict Aware Conservation Framework for Predicting Human-Wildlife Conflict Risk Zones

Abstract

Despite ongoing threats posed by human-wildlife conflict (HWC), not only to biodiversity conservation but also to the livelihoods of rural communities, HWC remains a major problem, especially in regions adjacent to conservation areas. The methods used to address HWC problems often involve reactive conflict management, which focuses on addressing the conflict after crops or domestic animals have been damaged or even people harmed. In this paper, the Conflict Aware Conservation Framework is introduced, a species-behaviour-focused HWC identification and prediction method prior to conflict occurrences. Four biologically-based HWC management techniques are discussed. The theory shifts the emphasis from generic spatial relationships between species and humans to species ethology, foraging ecology, and migratory behaviour as the main factors that predict the probability of conflict occurrence. The applicability of the theory is shown by demonstrating how it can be used to strategically allocate resources for mitigation, monitoring, and adaptive management within human-wildlife interaction zones. Conservation biologists and wildlife managers get a scientifically sound tool for predicting future problem spots and efficiently allocating scarce conservation resources.