human-wildlife conflict

Department faculty interview cocoa farmer adjacent to Kakum National Park, Ghana

Submitted by AnthonyB on Aug 3, 2011

Department faculty Alexios Antypas and Brandon Anthony interview cocoa farmer concerning park-people relations, crop-raiding elephants, and chili fencing adjacent to Kakum National Park, Ghana (31 May 2011)

The interview can be viewed on YouTube here

CENSE Researchers interview cocoa farmer adjacent to Kakum National Park, Ghana

Submitted by AnthonyB on Aug 3, 2011

CEU faculty and CENSE researchers Alexios Antypas and Brandon Anthony interview cocoa farmer concerning park-people relations, crop-raiding elephants, and chili fencing adjacent to Kakum National Park, Ghana (31 May 2011)

The interview can be viewed on YouTube here

Understanding the Conflict between Wild Boar and Humans in the Department of the Moselle, France

France, like many countries in Europe has seen an explosion in wild boar (Sus scrofa) numbers in the past 30 years. Worldwide, as numbers of certain species and the total human population increase, human-wildlife conflicts often arise. The aim of this study was to identify the elements characterising the conflict between wild boar and humans in the Department of the Moselle, France, through interviews with various stakeholders. Both social and environmental risk factors were shown to fuel the overall conflict. Environmental factors included weather, urban sprawl, farming practices, and the characteristics of hunting lots. The main social factor appeared to be the inequality between stakeholders, with the hunting lobby in the Department possessing the majority of the power. With wild boar being an important game species, the animal appears to have benefited from a degree of protection because of its economic value, with hunting lot prices having increased in the Department in combination with animal numbers. Though management of the animal by hunters appears to be changing, a number of stakeholders remain convinced that more is required on behalf of hunters to manage populations more responsibly. Agriculture is a sector particularly concerned by wild boar because of the damages they cause to crops and though damages are compensated for by hunters it appears that a number of other costs are not, such as damages to ecosystems, the health of fauna and humans, and costs to society such as a loss of amenity associated with the act of hunting.

Thesis author:

Mark Ryan

Thesis supervisor:

Brandon P. Anthony

Thesis topic:

human-wildlife conflict

Level:

Master's

CEU unit:

Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy

CEU unit:

Center for Environment and Security (CENSE)

Departmental faculty publish article on managing human-wildlife conflict in South Africa

Submitted by AnthonyB on Dec 16, 2010

Professors Brandon Anthony and Alexios Antypas of the Department of Environmental Sciences & Policy recently published an evaluation of managing human-wildlife conflict along Kruger National Park's (South Africa) western border. The problems of wildlife escaping from the park and depredating on crops and livestock in the area has had major effects on local livelihoods and is undermining the legitimacy of conservation agencies in the area.

CENSE Researchers publish article on managing human-wildlife conflict in South Africa

Submitted by AnthonyB on Dec 16, 2010

Professors Brandon Anthony and Alexios Antypas, both CENSE researchers, recently published an evaluation of managing human-wildlife conflict along Kruger National Park's (South Africa) western border. The problems of wildlife escaping from the park and depredating on crops and livestock in the area has had major effects on local livelihoods and is undermining the legitimacy of conservation agencies in the area.

Alina Szabo

PhD Student

Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy

Alina’s research focuses on the conflict and coexistence of large carnivores and people in the Romanian Carpathians. She is particularly interested in spatial and temporal patterns of conflict as well as the attitudes of various interest groups towards carnivores and their management. Before joining the PhD programme Alina studied and worked in Romania, Hungary, South Africa and the UK. Her professional experience spans the business, academic and NGO sectors and includes a diversity of roles from consulting, teaching and capacity building, to ecological surveys and project management. In her spare time she enjoys reading, hiking in the mountains, travelling and photography.

A view from the other side of the fence: Tsonga communities and the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Project status:

Completed

People whose livelihoods chiefly involve the direct exploitation of local natural resources often come into conflict with the institutions of protected areas, which are dedicated to natural resource conservation or preservation. Many scholars and managers now question the traditional top-down approach of excluding local participation and ignoring local interests in protected areas establishment and management.

Conservation attitudes of local people: the case of the Macin Mountains National Park, Romania

Project status:

Completed

Beliefs and attitudes of local people toward protected areas are increasingly being considered in conservation planning. Although park-people studies abound, relatively little is known about these relationships in Central and Eastern Europe. Romania’s protected area management system currently involves considering aspirations of local communities.

Investigating the incidence of damage-causing animals from Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve (Malawi) and consequences on rural livelihoods

Project status:

Completed

Duration of Project:

Jul, 2009 - Dec, 2009

Although there have been extensive studies on damage-causing animals (DCAs) and local communities elsewhere, little is known about the factors influencing the interactions of DCAs between the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve (VMWR) and neighbouring communities, nor about the effectiveness of DCA mitigation. Furthermore, although the contentious issue of DCAs has been recognized in the area, there has been no systematic evaluation to date of the extent of this damage and how it is affecting attitudes towards the VMWR.

Brandon P. Anthony

Associate Professor

Director, Remote/Rural Communities & the Environment

Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy

Center for Environment and Security (CENSE)

Prior to joining CEU faculty, Brandon Anthony worked as advisor to the Hungarian Nature Conservation Institute, as a park supervisor/biologist with the Otonabee Regional Conservation Authority (Canada), and as an agricultural habitat biologist with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (Canada). He has conducted research on nature conservation and community livelihoods in Canada, South Africa, Malawi, Romania and Hungary.