Human-wildlife conflict: terms & definitions – International Fund for Animal Welfare | IFAW

Report on Human-Wildlife Coexistence and Sustainable Development Goals

H3: Infrastructure Solutions for Ecosystem Management

Engineered structures such as culverts represent a critical tool for mediating human-wildlife interactions, directly supporting several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By managing water flow around beaver dams, these structures prevent flooding that can damage property and infrastructure, aligning with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). This approach also allows beavers, a keystone species, to continue their natural dam-building activities, which are vital for creating wetland habitats and water sources that support broader biodiversity. This conservation effort contributes to SDG 15 (Life on Land) and enhances water ecosystem health, which is relevant to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

• Benefit: Mitigates flood risk to human settlements by redirecting water flow, promoting safe and resilient communities (SDG 11).
• Benefit: Preserves beaver populations, which enhance ecosystem services and support terrestrial biodiversity (SDG 15).
• Consideration: Improper design can pose a threat to other wildlife, such as elephants, potentially trapping young animals. Infrastructure must be designed with a holistic view of its impact on all species to fully achieve the goals of SDG 15.

H3: Understanding Animal Behaviour for Human Safety

Defensive behaviour in animals is a natural response to perceived threats from human proximity. Understanding this behaviour is fundamental to creating safe, shared environments for both people and wildlife, a core component of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Aggressive actions from animals like bears or hippos are often defensive reactions to territorial intrusion. Promoting public awareness to avoid approaching or disturbing wildlife is a key strategy for preventing negative interactions. This respect for animal habitats and behaviours is essential for protecting threatened species and maintaining ecological balance, thereby supporting the targets of SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• Defensive responses can range from fleeing to aggression and are a primary cause of human injury in conflict scenarios.
• Educating communities on maintaining a safe distance from wildlife is crucial for coexistence.
• Protecting the habitats of territorial species like hippos is necessary to reduce confrontations and achieve the conservation goals outlined in SDG 15.

H3: Deterrence Devices for Conflict Mitigation

Deterrence devices are employed to discourage wildlife from entering human-occupied areas, particularly agricultural lands. These tools are vital for protecting crops and livelihoods, contributing directly to food security under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). By reducing crop raiding, deterrents help create a more stable and sustainable coexistence model. A variety of methods are utilized to achieve this goal, supporting the development of resilient communities as envisioned in SDG 11.

1. Traditional Deterrents: Rural communities widely use low-cost methods such as drums, fires, and scarecrows to protect their agricultural assets.
2. Nature-Based Barriers: Innovative solutions like beehive fences are used to deter elephants. This method not only protects farms but also supports pollination and provides an alternative income source through honey production, advancing both SDG 2 and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
3. Modern Systems: Technological deterrents, including acoustic and chemical-based systems, offer additional strategies for managing shared landscapes.

H3: Addressing Habitat Encroachment through Land-Use Planning

Human encroachment into natural habitats for agriculture and infrastructure development is a primary driver of human-wildlife conflict. This process fragments ecosystems and reduces the space available for wildlife, directly undermining progress toward SDG 15 (Life on Land). To counteract this, a strategic approach to land management is required.

Participatory land-use planning is an essential solution that aligns with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by promoting inclusive and accountable governance. This rights-based approach ensures that land is managed sustainably for the benefit of all.

• Inclusive Participation: Actively involving local land users, government bodies, and other stakeholders in the planning process is critical.
• Strategic Zoning: Designating specific zones for settlements, agriculture, wildlife corridors, and grazing helps minimize conflict and supports the creation of sustainable communities (SDG 11).
• Accountable Governance: Establishing and enforcing clear rules for land and resource access through accountable local institutions is necessary for long-term success and achieving the principles of SDG 16.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

1. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The article’s central theme is human-wildlife conflict, which directly relates to the goal of protecting terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity. It discusses the negative impacts of human activities on animals like beavers, elephants, bears, and hippos, and the importance of conserving their habitats. The concept of “encroachment” highlights the threat of habitat loss and degradation.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article proposes solutions to encroachment that are rooted in governance and institutional frameworks. It explicitly calls for “participatory land-use planning,” “accountable local governance,” and the enforcement of regulations, which are key components of building effective and inclusive institutions.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The issue of encroachment is driven by “agriculture and infrastructure development” expanding into natural habitats. The proposed solution of “zoning land areas for specified uses such as settlements, crops, wildlife, and grazing” is a direct reference to sustainable human settlement planning, which is a core aspect of this goal.
4. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article mentions that beaver dams “create habitats and water sources for many other species.” The use of culverts to “channel water” and “redirect water flow” is a water management strategy. This connects the issue of coexisting with beavers to the broader goal of protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems.

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

1. Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and… protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The article addresses this by discussing how encroachment degrades habitats and how conflict can lead to the killing of crucial species like beavers and elephants.
   • Target 15.9: Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning. The article’s strong recommendation for “participatory land-use planning” that zones areas for wildlife is a direct application of this target.
2. Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The article advocates for a “rights-based approach that actively involves local land users and other stakeholders” in land-use planning, directly aligning with this target.
3. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management. The discussion on preventing encroachment through planned zoning for settlements, agriculture, and wildlife directly relates to this target.
4. Under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
   • Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems. The article highlights the role of beavers in creating water sources and the need for solutions like culverts that allow these ecosystem engineers to thrive, thereby protecting the water-related ecosystems they create.

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

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several metrics that could be used to measure progress:

• Reduction in Human-Wildlife Conflict Incidents: Progress could be measured by a decrease in the number of negative interactions reported, such as property damage from beaver-dam flooding or aggressive encounters with hippos and bears.
• Adoption of Coexistence Strategies: An indicator would be the rate of implementation of non-lethal methods mentioned in the article, such as the number of properly designed culverts installed or the number of communities using deterrence devices like beehive fences. This would measure a shift away from killing or trapping animals.
• Implementation of Participatory Land-Use Plans: Progress towards targets 15.9, 16.7, and 11.3 can be measured by the number of local communities that have developed and are enforcing land-use plans that explicitly zone areas for wildlife, settlements, and agriculture, as described in the section on encroachment.
• Rate of Habitat Encroachment: A key indicator for Target 15.5 would be the measured rate at which human activities, such as agriculture and infrastructure, are expanding into previously natural wildlife habitats and corridors. A reduction in this rate would signify progress.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ifaw.org