How local heroes protect their communities and wildlife

As the effects of climate change devastate natural resources, the people living closest to nature find themselves increasingly competing with wildlife for water, food, and land-sometimes with deadly consequences.

In many areas, human populations are growing, prompting people to move deeper into wild areas and turn forests and savannahs into farmland and pastures. Meanwhile, large land mammals-such as elephants, lions, and tigers -are roaming beyond protected areas in search of water and food, only to find their hunting and foraging grounds disappearing and their migratory routes blocked. These animals may hunt families' livestock, destroy their homes and crops, or even kill or injure people. Whether in retaliation or for self-protection, communities then become more likely to kill wildlife or to engage in wildlife crime, like poaching.

These negative interactions are called human-wildlife conflict, and it is a vicious cycle that we need to break.

Human-wildlife conflict directly affects families that lose lives and livelihoods. It is a huge development, humanitarian, and biodiversity concern, so we urgently need to find solutions.

At IFAW, we promote peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife. That's why we work with the communities living closest to nature to co-create and implement conservation programmes that benefit people, too.

One way we do this is through primary response teams (PRTs): groups of enthusiastic local volunteers, village elders, and influential people who are trained and equipped to respond to conflict situations in ways that protect both people and wildlife.

They are their communities' first line of defence and should be lauded as conservation heroes.

PRTs have three overarching goals: to prevent conflicts from happening, to pacify conflicts when they do occur, and to reduce the impacts of conflicts on both people and wildlife.

These goals are all critical to maintaining people's trust and tolerance for wildlife while supporting safe and secure communities.

Looking at each of those goals, here are some roles volunteers play in protecting their neighbours.

Preventing conflicts

• They identify animals' locations and alert authorities and nearby communities.
• They educate communities on how to stay safe and what human behaviours or activities might lead to a conflict.
• They periodically patrol conflict hotspots.
• They encourage communities to adopt livelihoods that are more secure from wildlife.

Pacifying conflicts

• They systematically drive away problem animals from human spaces.
• They actively manage crowds during driving or capture operations.

Reducing impact

• They provide emergency first aid to anyone who's been injured.
• They collect data on conflicts and report it to wildlife authorities, who can then develop better-informed wildlife management plans.
  

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