WWF -

Exploratory co-management interventions in Kuiburi National Park, Central Thailand, including human-elephant conflict mitigation

2008-09-03

John W.K. Parr (Corresponding Author)
Supol Jitvijak, Saowanee Saranet and Songsak Buathong

Co-management is a developing field of protected area management. Increasingly, the practice is to involve local communities and other stakeholders in protected area planning and management. In many countries,
management boards, co-management structures and other participatory mechanisms are being created.

This paper reports on promoting co-management involving participatory management planning at Kuiburi National Park, Central Thailand, through the establishment of two working groups, namely a core management planning team comprising park personnel (charged with plan implementation), operating in parallel with a park management board working group (local people and other stakeholders).

These institutional bodies participated in a park management planning process, which was fuelled by socio-economic data focusing on the high profile human-elephant conflict in the buffer zone. The initiative led to a major rethink on participatory management planning by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The process also led to some valuable recommendations for elephant-wildlife mitigation, both at Kuiburi and the international context.

Livelihoods Outcomes in the Terai Arc Landscape, Nepal

2008-07-23

The latest addition to the sustainable livelihoods series, "Livelihoods Outcomes: Study and Analysis of Changes of Bottleneck Level Community Forest Users, TAL", features the changes in livelihoods of community forest users living in the Lamahi Bottleneck Area of the Tarai Arc Landscape Program.

The study shows how people's livelihoods status is going through a change after being involved in managing and sustainably using the community forests in their areas. The overall objective of the study was to find out how the change is occurring at household levels and how the institutional capacity to manage and involve local users is increasing, attracting meaningful and active participation of local people.

The study comprises of two different study tools - use of institutional and household survey forms and use of perception analysis methods applied at different stages for different groups. The study was carried out in the mid-western part of the Terai Arc Landscape Program bordering with India in the southern part. The study site is one of the key bottlenecks and corridors for endangered species like Asian Elephant and Royal Bengal Tiger.

According to analyzed results, some significant improvement on livelihoods on local households could be found, such as:

- More than 1/4 of are using energy efficient devices and 20% of total biogas are attached with toilets
- About 70 per cent have at least six month food sufficiency
- 84 per cent have access to improved drinking water
- Over 1/3 one third of household members have obtained at least one capacity building or skills based trainings

A majority of community households are also able to install toilet attached biogas plants which reduce workload of women and children significantly, reduce grazing pressure on forests and the reduce the occurrence of water and airborne diseases.

In the end, the conclusions and recommendations of this study have shown the way to the strategic feedback to WWF Nepal and its partners for the kinds of issues that need to be addressed in this development and conservation programs for livelihoods.

Common Ground - Reducing human wildlife conflict

2008-05-13

The WWF report 'Common Ground' (PDF - 3.74MB) assesses cases of Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC), focusing on elephants as a flagship of these conflicts. Often the scale of the damage that can be caused by them, and the fact that they can injure or even kill humans, makes them the species that communities most fear.

Although the dynamics and drivers of HWC can be very different wherever it occurs, there are themes in the studies that can be used to compose a 'Common Ground' or a basic list of solutions available and tested. Here are some of them:

Scale of the problem
Common Ground found the most serious conflict and harm to both human communities and elephants resulted from unplanned and unregulated development. In Namibia, elephant related conflict costs communal farmers around $US 1 million a year, while in some Nepalese communities it can be up to around a quarter of the household incomes of poor farming families.

The most significant consequence of the conflict was loss of human life, but other considerable, costs of human wildlife conflict go largely uncounted – for instance, in Nepal, men in elephant-ravaged villages faced difficulties in marrying as women as scared to move to villages where elephants are a problem. In some areas, retaliatory killing of elephants was a major threat to already vulnerable elephant populations.

Effective land use planning can reduce HWC
In Nepal, the study compared communities with high levels of wild elephant damage with an area where the conflict costs were at half those levels, and found that the less damaged area had more forest cover in edge areas and less fragmented forests overall. Further analysis revealed that the level of habitat fragmentation was actually more influential in determining the amount of crop loss than the amount of forest coverage itself - although there are many other factors which play a part.

In Namibia levels of crop damage were closely related to the distance of farms from wildlife areas, with farms immediately adjacent to unfenced wildlife habitat being "a drain on the national economy". Human wildlife conflict in just one region of Namibia was estimated as causing annual losses of US$700,000 to the national economy. Therefore effective structures and planning process that ensure new agricultural developments are places as far away from wildlife habitat as possible will reduce HWC and ensure greater profitability for the agricultural enterprise.

Community Based Natural Resource Management
The report also found that an effective way to manage HWC was to give rights over wildlife to local communities, thus enabling local communities to benefit from neighbouring wildlife. Economic analysis in Namibia demonstrated that these communities were able to generate more income from wildlife than they suffered from wildlife losses. In Nepal, communities which received benefits from wildlife and wildlife habitat showed a much greater tolerance towards elephants than communities receiving no benefits.

A united effort
In order to be truly effective, prevention of Human Wildlife Conflict has to involve the full scope of society: international organizations, governments, NGOs, communities, consumers and individuals. Drivers of the problem are not just local, but can be regional or even international. In Namibia for example, international agreements between Europe and Africa artificially enhance the economic viability of the livestock sector compared to other land-uses and add to wildlife conflict pressures.

Innovative financial solutions
In many cases, innovative financial solutions are required. These range from compenstation and insurance, to Payments for Environmental Services and the development of 'Wildlife Friendly Products'. These solutions are available, but need development, backing and support.

Field based solutions
There are a number of practical field based solutions that can limit the damage done both to humans and human property, and to wildlife. These are solutions that aim to prevent wildlife entering crops or villages. But this is something on a case-by-case basis. What people see as solution in one place, they may resist in another. What works in one place, may have the opposite effect somewhere else.

Livestock Insurance Scheme

2008-02-14

The latest document on the theme sustainable livelihoods, focuses on the compensation mechanism for wildlife induced vulnerability. It is based on the study carried out in Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, one of the project sites of Sacred Himalaya Landscape in eastern Nepal. The document targets the local audience vulnerable to livestock depredation (especially yak) by wild animals (especially snow leopard). To reduce the vulnerability, build local people's coping capacity and reduce the retaliatory killings of snow leopards by victimized people, the concept community based livestock insurance scheme was started five years ago.

The recent publication is a practical field based assessment using different triangulation methods to explore the perceptions, benefits, use and management of Livestock Insurance Schemes and its other induced livelihoods opportunity.

Human Wildlife Conflict Manual

2006-10-26

In community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) programmes, local communities are co-managers of wildlife and earn direct benefits from wildlife. In such programmes conflict between people and wildlife is a frequent and ongoing problem. The expansion of human settlements into wildlife areas means that human-wildlife conflict is growing in many parts of Africa. In order to be successful and sustainable, wildlife-based CBNRM programmes have to address this conflict.

This manual is designed to guide local communities, wildlife managers, policy makers, and other people involved in community conservation, in ways to reduce human-wildlife conflict. It provides some background on the problem and gives specific examples of methods used to reduce human-wildlife conflict in Southern Africa.
Examples from Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe are supplied, where available, to demonstrate some of these options.

Human-animal conflict

2006-10-16

Factsheet: Human-Animal Conflict

2006-03-08

Conflicts between humans and animals are a serious problem in many parts of the world. The damage and destruction caused by a variety of animals to human property - and sometimes to human life - is a real and significant danger to many human communities. And with the animals often killed, captured, or otherwise harmed in retaliation, these conflicts are one of the main threats to the continued survival of many species. WWF views human-animal conflict as a priority issue for its work on species protection.

In many parts of the world, people and animals are increasingly coming into conflict over living space and food. This is mainly due to expanding human populations and the continued loss of natural habitats. The impacts are often huge. People lose their crops, livestock, property, and sometimes their lives. The animals, many of which are already threatened or endangered, are often killed in retaliation or to 'prevent' future conflicts.

WWF and its partners have a number of projects around the world to reduce human-animal conflict and improve the livelihoods of the people affected. These projects range from traditional approaches such as compensation schemes to the development of novel strategies which address the root causes of the conflict. The solutions are often specific to the species or area concerned, and are often creative and simple.

Guidelines to better manage Human-Elephant Conflicts in Indonesian and Malaysian oil-palm plantations

2005-07-25

Guidelines on the Better Management Practices for the Mitigation and Management of Human-Elephant Conflict in and around Oil-Palm Plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia

By Daniel CHONG Kah Fui and DAYANG NORWANA binti Awang Ali Bema, WWF-Malaysia, 2005

This guide aims to present ways for the mitigation and management of Human-Elephant Conflict in oil-palm plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia through the adoption of better management practices (BMPs).

Feature advisory: Human-wildlife conflict

2003-10-16

As human populations expand and natural habitats shrink, people and animals are increasingly coming into conflict over living space and food. The impacts are often huge. People lose their crops, livestock, property, and sometimes their lives. The animals, many of which are already threatened or endangered, are killed in retaliation or to 'prevent' future conflicts. Human-wildlife conflict is one of the main threats to the continued survival of many species, in many parts of the world.

Solutions
WWF and its partners have a number of projects around the world to reduce human-wildlife conflict and improve the livelihoods of the people affected. The solutions are often specific to the species or area concerned, and are often creative and simple. An important aspect of the work is that it benefits both the animals and local human communities, and actively involves these communities. In most cases, the work has led to people being more enthusiastic and supportive of conservation, and has demonstrated that people can live alongside wildlife while developing sustainable livelihoods.

What you will find in this advisory
* Brief information on different animals that come into conflict with humans and work to mitigate this conflict:

• Asian and African elephant
• Greater one-horned rhino
• Tiger
• Snow leopard and Central Asian leopard
• Jaguar
• Mediterranean monk seal
• Golden jackal
• Brown bear, Eurasian lynx, wolf, and bearded vulture

* Links to further online information
* Description of resources available from WWF for different animals and projects (images, footage, audio clips)
* Contact details for WWF experts in different parts of the world

Human-Elephant Conflict in Kenya - 2003

2003-10-02

In the last seven years, 200 people in Kenya were killed by wildlife. A far greater number were injured and indeed maimed. Communities living next to protected areas lose half their crop and are often rendered dependent on food aid. The nomadic pastoral communities who live side-by-side wildlife lose at least one animal every week to predatory wildlife. An estimated 80 per cent of Kenya's spectacular wildlife is found outside protected areas in community lands.Report on Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Kenyaundertaken by Africa Conservation Centre for ActionAid.September 23, 2003: Eight elephants invade a maize farm in Koibatek District, in the Rift Valley, and turning wild when villagers try to scare them away. Farmers lament if the elephants destroy their maize harvest, they would be forced to rely on relief food handouts. They threaten to arm themselves with bows and arrows to keep the offending animals at bay. East African Standard newspaperSeptember 18, 2003: Three elephants invade villages and farms at Kilifi in the coast causing mayhem. It took the combined force of the Kenya Wildlife Service rangers and Police to drive the stubborn creatures out of town. They were undeterred by several shots fired in the air, causing a spectacle as they asserted their indomitable might by posing on the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway. Two of the elephants were eventually shot dead. East African Standard September 13, 2003: Farmers in the Mount Kenya area write to the Minister for Environment asking him to allow them to export elephants as a means of reducing conflict, and raising money to build an electric fence around Mt Kenya forest. They say some 700 elephants in the area have made crop production a near impossibility. East African StandardAugust 9, 2003: Small-scale farmers take to the streets in the coastal town of Malindi to protest destruction of their crops by elephants, complaining they were being reduced to beggars of food. East African Standard August 8, 2003: A 40-year old farmer trying to protect his crop from elephants is trampled to death in Laikipia District in the Rift Valley part of Kenya. He was the fourth person in this part of the country to be killed by elephants this year. Daily Nation newspaper/East African StandardAugust 7, 2003: Hundreds of community members trap and kill two elephants believed to be part of a herd that raids farmer fields in Transmara District. A third elephant escaped the day-long ordeal seriously injured. Daily Nation newspaper/East African StandardJuly 15, 2003: A cyclist in Lamu, at the coast, is killed when he unexpected encountered a herd of 10 elephants. His body was found on top of a tree. East African StandardJune 30, 2003: The government announces plans to develop a law to address human-wildlife conflicts. The law, the Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill, is being drafted for Parliamentary approval soon, according to the Minister for Environment, Dr Newton Kulundu. Daily NationJune 27, 2003: Masais living in Narok District, which the Masai Mara Game Reserve is located, take to the streets to protest being held hostage by elephants in their homes for 12 hours from dawn to dusk as the elephants raided their crops earlier in the week. A man was killed as he and his wife took their sick child to hospital. The Masais complained of inaction by the concerned authority, the Kenya Wildlife Service, in dealing with the elephant menace and vowed to kill the marauding animals terrorising them. Daily NationJune 26, 2003: 50 elephants and 10 lions from the Tsavo West National Park terrorise communities in Taita-Taveta's Mwatate area destroying crops and killing livestock. Communities give the government an ultimatum to bring the situation under control, or they take matters into their own hands and kill the wildlife. East African Standard June 5, 2003: Three elephants are killed and a calf seriously injured by suspected poachers in Wajir District, North Eastern Kenya. East African Standard May 31, 2003: Kenyans call for an upward amendment of compensation packages for destruction of property and death meted by wildlife. They want compensation payment for death caused by wildlife increased from Ksh30,000 to Ksh5 million. A motion tabled and passed in Parliament last year had increased this payment to Ksh1 million, but it is not yet being implemented. Daily NationApril 11, 2003: A 20-year old man is trampled to death by six elephants that invaded his farm near Mt Kenya for two nights. The man died while trying to drive the elephants away and save his crop. Earlier in the same week, a forest warden was killed in similar circumstances in the very area. Two weeks before that three people were also attacked and injured by elephants in the same area. Daily NationApril 3, 2003: At the coast in Malindi, a man is trampled to death by an elephant thought to have strayed the nearby from the Arabuko Sokoke Forest. Another that had been terrorising villagers and children, and destroying crops in Kilifi was driven back into the forest. East African StandardMarch 26, 2003: A three-year boy is burnt to death as his grandfather and neighbours watched helplessly as a group of elephants stood guard at the home's entrance in the central part of Kenya. The elephants, from the Mt Kenya Forest, had invaded a neighbouring primary school at 7am engaging pupils, teachers and parents in a hide and seek game. By the end of a six hour duel with the KWS rangers trying to herd them back to the forest, the elephants had invaded five other schools including one for handicapped children, and injured three people – two critically. They had also wrecked havoc on substantial amounts of crops. At least one elephant was shot dead.For Further Information, ContactCatherine Mgendi, Communications ManagerWWF Eastern AfricaTel: 254 020 572630/1; 577355Fax: 254 020 577389E-mail: cmgendi@wwfearpo.org

A status report on Nepal's wild elephant population - 1997

1997-03-24

1997 status report on Nepal's wild elephant population by Petra Furaha ten Velde.

Digitally transcribed with permission from WWF International by Michael Cordingley 2011.

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It must be understood that the wild Asian elephant lives in a densely populated nation of Southeast Asia. Protection of its dwindling populations involves a wide range of conservation aspects, which need equal consideration, will their walk into the coming years be secured. One of the most challenging issues facing protection of their numbers is habitat fragmentation and increasing forest depletion. The elephant stands second to man in its need for land and has similar abilities of depleting its sources when insufficient to its needs. Therefore, continuing forest encroachment and destruction due to human activities, such as illegal settlement in reserve forests, or development projects, are obstructions which hinder their survival. Moreover with habitats shrinking, elephants are forced to wander long distances in order to meet their needs. This may even results in elephants crossing international boundaries, in their search for alternative suitable habitats. Inevitably the elephant comes to stand in increasing conflict with man over land use.

Taking this into consideration, one of the most important needs for the conservation of the Asian elephant is protection of remaining forest. Alternative strategies will need to be implemented will remaining elephant habitats be harboured. This may involve coming up with protected ranges, which serve as linkages between larger protected areas, or reserve forests.

The state of the wild elephant's of the Indo-Nepalese trans-boundary area can be considered doomed if appropriate action is not taken to understand their status and hence implement conservation schemes accordingly. The western and eastern Indo-Nepal elephants have been neglected in their needs for adequate habitats. With continuous movement taking place across borders, and consequently, the wild elephant number increasing in Nepal, conservation action will need to be implemented.

Habitat destruction today has become the prime cause for increasing elephant dispersal and migration patterns. Whether this is done internally or across country borders, both need to be considered. If elephants are of essence for life, it is our duty to protect remaining natural habitats, even if this means humbling man in his manipulation of the forest. Co-existence remains the leading issue in the safekeeping of the needs of both man and elephant, which has yet to challenge the role of conservation today.

I sincerely hope the report will offer the Government of Nepal and related conservation organisations a better insight into the wild elephant population status of the country.

Petra Furaha ten Velde
August 15, 1997
Kathmandu, Nepal