April 2017: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the World Bank have highlighted the results of efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict (HWC) in African countries. The efforts featuring case studies and methodologies supporting HWC reduction included World Wildlife Day communications, a tool kit and a Conference in Gabon.

On World Wildlife Day, held annually on 3 March, ‘Unasylva,’ a quarterly newsletter produced by FAO and the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW), explored the relationship between humans and wildlife with a focus on Africa. In a press release on the publication, FAO emphasizes that human-wildlife conflict is becoming more common on the continent because of population growth, rising demand for natural resources, land competition and the expansion of transport routes, agriculture and industry. It discusses one case study on how indigenous peoples in northern Kenya have improved coexistence with wildlife by reducing bush-cutting and leaving more fodder for wildlife on their lands.

FAO also announced the first Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) toolbox. The toolbox, which has been employed in Gabon’s Cristal Mount National Park, was developed by FAO, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and other partners.

The World Bank also reported positive developments with regard to HWC-related projects. In a news feature, the Bank discusses how income generating activities have reduced poaching and improved human-wildlife coexistence in Benin. Through the ‘Support to Protected Areas Management Project’ (PAGAP), people living on the outskirts of Pendjari National Park in Benin have taken to sheep farming and moved away from poaching and other illegal activities in the park. Speaking of the project, Boukari Warakpe, General Director of the National Center for Wildlife Management, said “trust has been restored between wildlife and humans.”

In addition, the World Bank-led Global Wildlife Program (GWP) and the Government of Gabon convened over 60 participants in La Lopé National Park in central Gabon, from 3-7 April 2017, to explore ways to reduce HWC. The conference considered various case studies, including lessons learned from Gabon, which is implementing the ‘Wildlife and Human-Elephant Conflict Management Project’ with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). [World Bank Press Release on Conference] [World Bank Feature Story] [Conference on Reducing Human Wildlife Conflict And Enhancing Coexistence] [FAO Press Release] [Unasylva 240 Vol 68 2017/1] [Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) Toolbox] [Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management]