How Climate Change Brings Wildlife to the Yard – UC Davis

Report on Increased Human-Wildlife Conflict Due to Climate-Induced Drought

A recent study conducted by researchers from UCLA and UC Davis establishes a direct correlation between climate change-induced droughts and a rise in reported human-wildlife conflicts. This finding has significant implications for several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Quantitative Analysis of Conflict Increase

The research, analyzing seven years of data from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, reveals a quantifiable increase in conflicts with specific carnivores during drought years. The data indicates that for every one-inch decrease in annual rainfall, reported conflicts rose significantly. This underscores the direct impact of climate change on ecosystem stability, a core concern of SDG 13.

• Mountain Lions: 2.1% increase in reported conflicts.
• Coyotes: 2.2% increase in reported conflicts.
• Black Bears: 2.6% increase in reported conflicts.
• Bobcats: 3.0% increase in reported conflicts.

Defining Conflict in the Context of Shared Resources

The study categorizes “conflict” as incidents involving property damage or nuisance behavior, rather than direct attacks on humans. This distinction is critical, as it frames the issue as a competition for scarce resources like food and water, exacerbated by drought. This competition directly impacts the goals of SDG 15 (Life on Land) by threatening both wildlife and human well-being in shared environments. The perception of conflict is often subjective, highlighting the need for community-level strategies to foster coexistence, a key component of SDG 11.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 15: Life on Land

The findings demonstrate a clear link between climate change and pressures on terrestrial ecosystems. As droughts intensify, wildlife is forced to seek resources in human-dominated areas, leading to increased conflict and threatening biodiversity. Achieving SDG 15, which aims to protect and restore terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss, is therefore contingent on robust climate action as outlined in SDG 13. The study suggests that without mitigating climate change, human-wildlife conflicts will escalate.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The increase in conflicts highlights a critical challenge for SDG 11, which seeks to make human settlements safe, resilient, and sustainable. The encroachment of wildlife into urban and agricultural areas points to a failure in landscape planning. The report suggests that sustainable water management, a central tenet of SDG 6, is a potential solution. Mitigating human water extraction from natural landscapes could preserve resources for wildlife, thereby reducing the impetus for animals to enter human spaces and helping to build more harmonious communities.

Recommendations for Mitigation and Coexistence

Developing Climate-Resilient Landscapes

A primary recommendation is the creation of climate-resilient landscapes and safe zones for wildlife. These areas would provide essential resources, particularly during extreme weather events like droughts and wildfires, dissuading animals from venturing into developed areas. This proactive approach directly supports the targets of SDG 15 by preserving habitats and protecting vulnerable species.

The Role of Community-Driven Science

The study relied on a comprehensive, community-reported database. This underscores the value of community-driven science in monitoring and understanding environmental changes. Engaging local populations in data collection and conservation efforts is essential for creating effective, localized solutions that promote coexistence and advance the goals of sustainable community development under SDG 11.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses issues that are directly and indirectly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals. The primary connections are to goals concerning climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable communities.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  This is the most central SDG in the article. The entire premise of the research is based on the impact of climate change, specifically the increased frequency of droughts. The article opens by stating, “As climate change increases the frequency of droughts, UCLA and UC Davis researchers found one overlooked side effect: People report more conflicts with wildlife…” It explicitly links climate change to the ecological and social consequences discussed.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This goal is also directly addressed, as the conflict is between humans and terrestrial wildlife (mountain lions, coyotes, black bears, bobcats). The article explores the effects of habitat stress due to resource scarcity caused by drought. It calls for creating “climate-resilient landscapes for wildlife” and protecting “wild areas,” which aligns with SDG 15’s aim to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The conflict described occurs where human and animal habitats overlap, often in or near urban and suburban areas. The article notes that animals are “coming into human spaces” and “venturing into more human-dominated spaces.” The call to “plan ways to coexist with wildlife” is directly related to making human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, which is the core of SDG 11.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  While the focus is not on human sanitation, the issue of water scarcity is a key driver of the conflict. The article is centered on droughts and decreased rainfall. The proposed solution, “Mitigating how much water we take out of natural landscapes could mitigate conflict,” directly relates to the sustainable management of water resources, a key aspect of SDG 6.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s discussion, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

   The article highlights the need to adapt to the effects of climate change (droughts) by finding ways to manage the resulting human-wildlife conflict. The call to “plan ways to coexist with wildlife” is a direct appeal for building adaptive capacity to this climate-related hazard.

2. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

   The conflict arises because droughts degrade natural habitats by reducing the availability of resources for wildlife. The suggestion to create “safe zones and other refuges for wildlife” is a direct action aimed at mitigating habitat degradation and protecting biodiversity.

3. Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.

   The research itself and its conclusions advocate for integrating the needs of ecosystems into local planning. The statement, “if we don’t create more climate-resilient landscapes for wildlife,” implies a need for better land-use planning that considers biodiversity.

4. Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters…

   Drought is a water-related disaster. The article analyzes reports of “property damage” caused by wildlife, which represents a direct economic loss for affected people. Mitigating this conflict would contribute to achieving this target.

5. Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity…

   The article proposes that a solution to the conflict is to reduce human impact on water resources, stating, “Mitigating how much water we take out of natural landscapes could mitigate conflict.” This directly addresses the need for sustainable water withdrawals to protect ecosystems.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions and implies several specific indicators that can be used to measure the problem and the progress towards solutions.

• Directly Mentioned Indicators:
  • Rate of human-wildlife conflict reports: The core finding of the study is a quantitative measure: “For every inch that annual rainfall decreases, scientists found a 2% to 3% increase in reported clashes.” This rate serves as a direct indicator of the problem’s severity.
  • Number of conflict incidents by species: The article provides specific data points, such as a “2.1% [increase] for mountain lions” and “3% for bobcats” per inch of rainfall decrease. These species-specific numbers can be used to track trends.
  • Type of conflict reported: The researchers specifically analyzed reports of “property damage and ‘nuisances'”. The number and proportion of these reports in the “Wildlife Incident Reporting database” are a key indicator of the conflict’s impact on humans.
• Implied Indicators:
  • Annual rainfall measurements: The entire study uses annual rainfall as the independent variable. Therefore, tracking rainfall levels is a crucial indicator for predicting and understanding the frequency of conflicts.
  • Area of protected/resilient landscapes: The article suggests creating “climate-resilient landscapes for wildlife” and “safe zones.” The total area (e.g., in hectares or square kilometers) of such designated zones would be an indicator of progress in implementing solutions.
  • Water withdrawal rates from natural landscapes: The suggestion to mitigate how much water is taken from natural landscapes implies that the volume of water extracted from these areas is an indicator. Measuring and reducing this volume would show progress towards the proposed solution.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ucdavis.edu