MALVERN KARIDOZO

Human-wildlife coexistence in a landscape mosaic – A landscape level approach to mitigate human-elephant conflicts in Livingstone, Zambia

Aerial view of a resident elephant herd

An enumerator ground tracking collared elephants

LocationCountryCategoriesDate
LIVINGSTONE TOWNZambiaAfrica, Conflict, Habitat, People3 Apr 2007

The general objectives of the project are to determine the wildlife movement patterns and corridors as well as the nature and patterns of conflict in relation to habitat use, to identify, characterize and map human wildlife conflict hotspots and develop a GIS database on human-wildlife conflicts with much focus on elephants. The project also aims at proposing landscape structures relevant to the findings of this study.

Human-wildlife conflict is a critical problem for wildlife conservation in Africa. Conflict between rural farmers and wildlife occurs where agriculture expands and wildlife range is compressed, leading to direct competition for land and natural resources. In the Zambezi Valley of Zambia in Livingstone, human and wildlife populations coexist in a landscape mosaic. As the major contributor to community-based conservation, wildlife, particularly elephants are viewed as a key resource. Conflict is widespread and occasionally severe. Agricultural expansion and of late tourism threatens wildlife habitat, through rapid and unplanned conversion of forest to farmland or lodgings. The elephant population within the study area is currently contiguous, and radio tracking of elephants in this area over two years has disclosed core refuge areas linked by widespread seasonal movements. Elephants are ranked among the major contributors to community-based conservation and tourism operations, but if they are to be effectively conserved, their requirements for habitat and their impacts upon the human farming and tourism population must be fully investigated and addressed.

The project seeks to influence and advocate for developments that keep settlements out of wildlife movement corridors, feeding and shelter areas to reduce the said conflicts. It also seeks to make an impact where growth and development takes place on the landscape to advise land use planning.

The project appreciates that the prognosis for conservation of wildlife, their movement corridors and habitats seems exceedingly grim if land-use changes remain unchecked and not investigated thus calls for a participatory and integrated landscape level approach to solving the issues of human wildlife conflict thereby fostering wildlife conservation and community livelihoods.

For more information contact malvern@elephantpepper.org

Project Update May 2007

Visiting Botswana wildlife management officer during transect walks

Mapping

Mapping of wildlife habitat usage is underway and is an ongoing activity. This is being defined through mapping sessions with local key informants. A base map for the area has been developed.

Public Meetings and trainings

Seven community meetings and three human elephant conflict mitigation trainings have been conducted to obtain quantitative and qualitative baseline information on the presence or absence of key wildlife species on village land. Generally, densities of wild animals are low, except in the Zoological Park within the Mosi O Tunya National Park. Large mammals are scarce, except for baboon and vervet monkey. Hippos are present and elephants come and go across the Zambezi River from Zimbabwe in varying numbers which are increasing and are more common in the dry season.

Ground Surveys and transect walks will be conducted at the beginning of June as vegetation will be less dense from then. GPS readings for locations of conflict hot spots will be recorded.

Crop and property damage assessment to quantify the area, intensity and nature of each crop and property damage incident is underway and locations are being taken using a GPS to ensure the data are suitable for entry into GIS.

Project Update: August 2007

Opening up fields in a wildlife habitat remains a major threat to wildlife survival

Mapping

Five prominent elephant corridors passing through human settlements were identified and mapped. Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) incidences in these corridors are being recorded and in one of these incidences a man was killed at night by an injured elephant with a calf.

Public Meetings and trainings: Two trainings on natural resources management and HEC mitigation were conducted using theatre and drama to sensitize communities.

Ground Surveys through transect walks to verify wildlife movements began in June and have been carried out across the entire study area. A repeat exercise will be conducted to verify initial efforts.

Crop and property damage assessment is currently focussed on small vegetable gardens, grain stores and water sources as there are no field crops except on irrigated commercial farms along the Zambezi River.

Land-use planning: A stakeholders’ meeting involving government authorities, local council land planners, community representatives, several other organizations and individuals was held in July.

Project Update: September 2007

Darted collared elephant

Major findings from this study to date:

The main threat to wildlife species is habitat loss and fragmentation leaving wildlife to survive in ‘refuges’ linked by areas under high conservation threat.

Identification and prioritizing of at least five wildlife refuges linked with several corridors that run through densely settled land.

Results of tracking the current preferred migration of elephants between three of the refuges using radio collars have been combined with a GIS analysis to examine the zone where conservation of habitat would have least impact on current activities within the communal and peri-urban lands.

At least four suitable corridors were identified using least-cost analysis allowing for the improved conservation of the wildlife therefore potentially increasing the benefits to local residents by both reducing human/wildlife conflict and increasing income from tourism.

There is persistent and growing pressure for land by subsistence and commercial farmers and tour operators in the identified corridors.

Rapidly expanding human populations maintained by a booming tourism sector are changing land use patterns in a way that results in a contraction of habitat available to wildlife.


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