Levels of conflict over wildlife: Understanding and addressing the right problem

Alexandra Zimmermann,Brian Mcquinn,David W Macdonald

doi:10.1111/csp2.259

Abstract

AbstractHuman–wildlife conflicts are complex and defy simple explanations and solutions. The fields of conflict analysis and peacebuilding offer insights into the intensity, intractability, and possible approaches to addressing different kinds of conflict. Building on these fields, as well as advances in conservation practice, we adapt a framework for human–wildlife conflict that consists of three levels of conflict over wildlife: Level 1 conflicts are disputes over issues such as crop or livestock loss or concerns about safety, yet typically involve relatively high tolerance of the damage‐inducing species. In level 2 conflicts, in addition to visible impact of wildlife, there is a history of unsatisfactory attempts to address these issues, creating underlying resentment, tensions, and a sense of injustice among at least one of the parties. Level 3 conflicts are deep‐rooted and become intertwined with the identities of the parties and community involved, and extend to broader tensions over social identities and clashing values and beliefs. Such conflicts require mediated reconciliation dialogues and conflict transformation approaches. A structured understanding how to address a conflict before it escalates to a deeper level is fundamental for managing conservation challenges as complex and dynamic as conflicts over wildlife.

Highlights

If previous attempts to address the problem were perceived as unfair, disappointing, or misleading, underlying conflict takes root. It is only necessary for one of the parties to perceive the history in this way, it may be, for example, that conservation actors or authorities considered the issue satisfactorily addressed, but the affected community did not
Attempts to address a deep-rooted human–wildlife conflict with Level 1 strategies such as a fence can further widen the divide between those affected by the wildlife and those trying to resolve the issue
How can we determine when a human–wildlife conflict is fuelled by underlying issues, how these different levels of conflict should be addressed, and by whom?

Summary

Introduction

In Level 2, or underlying conflicts, the situation includes the visible issues of a Level 1 conflict but the damage or losses incurred are taking place in the context of a history of unsatisfactory attempts to address previous incidents. It is only necessary for one of the parties to perceive the history in this way, it may be, for example, that conservation actors or authorities considered the issue satisfactorily addressed, but the affected community did not.

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Conclusion