Why this project is important
Habitat degradation and land-use changes have increased contact between human and wildlife populations, and negative interactions lead to devastating losses for both. Target 4 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) directs management action to mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) for coexistence and reducing extinction risks for critical species.
Central to our approach towards HWC is the understanding that conflict is similar everywhere, but differs in local detail and context, requiring knowledge-sharing of best practices to enable coexistence.
Project Partner: IUCN Species Survival Commission Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group (HWCCSG)
Duration: 2020-2023
Project goals
- Support conservationists, governments, communities and all those working on human-wildlife conflict with accessible, practical advice and guidance to mitigate conflict and foster coexistence.
What we are doing
Elephant Family have supported the IUCN Species Survival Commission Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group (HWCCSG) since 2020. In March 2023, the HWCCSG published the IUCN Guidelines on Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence, providing global, authoritative and impartial guidance to understanding and resolving human-wildlife conflict. The Guidelines highlight essential foundations and principles for good practice, with clear guidance on tackling conflicts and enabling coexistence with wildlife. Since publication, the Guidelines have been downloaded over 5,000 times and are being translated into six languages. Elephant Family provided crucial support to hire an Editorial Officer during the writing phase and further support for editing and peer review in the final stages of publication.