People and protected areas: a study of local perceptions of wildlife crop-damage conflict in an area bordering the Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania

Spectacular, unique natural, and human tourism features in Nigeria have suffered and are still suffering from one form of encroachment or another. The aim of this study was to chronicle all the encroachment activities at the Lame Bura Game Reserve in Bauchi State, Nigeria. The methods used in the study were key informant interviews, focus group discussions and field observation. The qualitative data was analyzed, and the Purposive sampling technique was applied in the study. Findings from the results show that notable forms of encroachment include acquiring land illegally for agriculture, buildings, settlements, livestock grazing, hunting, poaching of wild animals, collections of forest products for medicine, food and timber. In conclusion, it was observed that there are outright contradictions in respecting the policies and conservation laws. It is therefore recommended that there should be urgent implementation of conservation policies and laws governing the establishment and management of protected areas in order to achieve sustainability within protected areas.

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Crop Protection and Its Effectiveness against Wildlife: A Case Study of Two Villages of Shivapuri National Park, Nepal

Nepal Journal of Science and Technology ◽

10.3126/njst.v16i1.14352 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sudip Pandey ◽

Siddhartha Bajra Bajracharya

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

National Park ◽

Management Practices ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Crop Protection ◽

Buffer Zone ◽

Well Being ◽

Economic Loss ◽

Crop Damage

A complex relationship between the residents and protected areas continue to be an obstacle to successful conservation of protected areas. Conflicts between park authority and people living around the park pose a threat to conservation. Moreover, crop depredation due to wildlife incurs a severe economic loss to communities living in the close vicinity of the park, affecting the livelihood and well-being of locals. Many studies have been carried out emphasizing the identification and quantification of crop damage, but studies highlighting the means used for the crop protection and their effectiveness are limited. This paper examines frequency of the crop damage by wildlife and efficacy of utilized management practices in Shivapuri National Park (SNP). Altogether 132 households were visited in two buffer zone villages namely, Sikre and Jhor Mahankhal of Shivapuri National Park, Nepal. The study suggested that crop depredation by wildlife was a function of several factors, namely, distance of the farmland from the park, size of the crop raiding animals, frequency of their attacks on the farmland, and the type of crops. Five different measures were identified by the communities which they regularly used to prevent crop damage. Both traditional as well as modern means were used by households to guard crops from invading wild animals. The means of crop protection from wildlife differed according to the type of animal and crop being protected. Biofencing and trenches were effective for the small animals. Watch tower “Machans” and throwing flaming sticks and making noises were the most effective and safest means of crop guarding from all kind of animals. Though crop guarding was intensive, no means were found to be able to prevent crop damage completely. Thus, site specific management strategies as well as technical and financial support from donor organizations would be most useful to minimize crop loss.Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 16, No.1 (2015) pp. 1-10

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Protected Area Governance and Its Influence on Local Perceptions, Attitudes and Collaboration

Land ◽

10.3390/land9090310 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 310

Author(s):

Jesse Sey Ayivor ◽

Johnie Kodjo Nyametso ◽

Sandra Ayivor

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Protected Area ◽

Protected Area Management ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Local Perceptions ◽

Perceptions And Attitudes ◽

Key Issues ◽

Area Management

Globally, protected areas are faced with a myriad of threats emanating principally from anthropogenic drivers, which underpins the importance of the human element in protected area management. Delving into the “exclusive” and “inclusive” approaches to nature conservation discourse, this study explored the extent to which local communities collaborate in the management of protected areas and how the governance regime of these areas influences local perceptions and attitudes. Data for the study were collected through stakeholder interviews, focus group discussions as well as a probe into participating groups’ collective perceptions and opinions on certain key issues. A total of 51 focus group discussions were held in 45 communities involving 630 participants. The analysis was done using qualitative methods and simple case counts to explain levels of acceptance or dislike of issues. The results showed that the objectives of state-managed protected areas, by their nature, tend to exclude humans and negatively influence local perceptions and attitudes. This, in addition to human-wildlife conflicts and high handedness by officials on protected area offenders, affects community collaboration. The study concluded that for protected area management to be effective, effort must be made to positively influence local perceptions and attitudes by promoting “win-win-win” partnerships among all stakeholders.

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Human-Asian wild elephant (Elephas maximus) conflicts and its socio-economic consequences in and around the protected areas of Central Terai, Nepal

Banko Janakari ◽

10.3126/banko.v24i1.13490 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 47-54

Author(s):

B. R. Yadav ◽

C. Dutta ◽

M. K. Chalise ◽

C. Williams

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Household Survey ◽

Buffer Zone ◽

Economic Loss ◽

Field Work ◽

Economic Consequences ◽

Crop Damage ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Study Sites

The study was carried out in and around the two protected areas of Central Terai, Nepal with the primary aim of assessing the socio economic losses due to human-wild elephant conflicts. The field work was conducted during May 2010 to April 2011 through field observation, household survey, focus group discussion and key informant interviews. Loss of 50 houses and 15 lives were noticed during the study period in the study sites whereas five wild elephants were killed during 2005–2010. An estimated amount of about NRs. 2,000,000 (US$ 25,165) was found as the economic loss due to crop raiding by elephants in Parsa District for the year 2009; whereas it was slightly less to a level of about NRs. 1,600,000 (US$ 20,289) in the year 2010. However, the economic loss due to crop damage by wild elephants raiding in the Buffer Zone (BZ) of the Chitwan National Park (CNP) was nearly half of the Parsa District. The per household economic loss from crop damages were estimated to be around NRs 5,000 (US$ 65.96) and NRS 6,135 (US$ 77.67) in Parsa District and the BZ of the CNP respectively. About 1000 hectares of forestland have been found to be occupied by about 650 families in and around the buffer zone of the CNP and Parsa Wildlife Reserve (PWR). Compensatory relief for victimized families are the immediate solution in reducing the conflict whereas cultivation of unpalatable crops in and around the elephant routes as well as practice of agro-forestry are some of the long term solution in the habitat of wild elephants.Banko Janakari, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 47-54

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ASSESSMENT OF PRIMARY FACTORS CAUSING POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE LOCAL PERCEPTIONS ON PROTECTED AREAS/SVARBIAUSIŲ VEIKSNIŲ, LEMIANČIŲ ATSAKOMYBĘ DĖL VEIKLOS SAUGOMOSE TERITORIJOSE, ĮVERTINIMAS/ ОЦЕНКА ГЛАВНЫХ ФАКТОРОВ, ОБУСЛАВЛИВАЮЩИХ ОТВЕТСТВЕННОСТЬ ЗА ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТЬ НА ОХРАНЯЕМЫХ ТЕРРИТОРИЯХ

Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management ◽

10.3846/1648-6897.2009.17.20-27 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 20-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Hasan Alkan ◽

Mehmet Korkmaz ◽

Ahmet Tolunay

Keyword(s):

Natural Resources ◽

Protected Areas ◽

National Park ◽

Local People ◽

Positive Perception ◽

Local Perceptions ◽

Local Participation ◽

Knowledge Levels ◽

Significant Obstacle ◽

Local Awareness

The protection of natural resources by strict rules at various legal statuses can generally cause damnification for the local people who are the users of this resource. In case the benefit loss that happens by reason of the prohibitions and limitations that are brought related to the usage of the resource is not corrected and local awareness is not created; negative local perceptions can come out pertinent to this resource and in connection with this, hostile attitudes arise related to the resource that is taken under protection. This case is a significant obstacle in front of being able to provide local participation for resource management. In this study the factors that negatively or positively affected the formation of the perceptions of the local people related to the protected areas are studied with the example of Kovada Lake National Park (KLNP). According to the findings of the study, while 25% of the local people have a positive perception on Kovada Lake National Park, the rest has a negative perception. Statistically significant differences have been found between these two groups whose perceptions show differences in terms of the knowledge levels related to the National Park and some losses of benefit that they had for benefiting from it. Santrauka Dėl griežtų teisėsaugos institucijų taikomų gamtinių išteklių apsaugos taisyklių asmenys, naudojantys šiuos išteklius, gali patirti žalos. Dėl draudimų ir ribojimų prarandama nauda negrįžta, neišugdomas ir sąmoningumas. Pateikiamas kliūties, trukdančios vietiniams žmonėms dalyvauti išteklių valdyme, pavyzdys. Veiksniai, teigiamai ar neigiamai veikiantys vietinių žmonių sąmoningumą dėl saugomos teritorijos formavimo, analizuojami Kovados ežero nacionalinio parko pavyzdžiu. Tyrimų duomenimis, 25 % vietinių gyventojų teigiamai vertino Kovados ežero nacionalinio parko apsaugą, kiti – neigiamai. Statistiškai reikšminiai šių dviejų grupių vertinimo skirtumai buvo rasti pagal suvokimą, grįstą žiniomis apie nacionalinį parką ir praradus naudą. Резюме Охрана природных ископаемых на основании строгих правил, диктуемых различными природоохранными учреждениями, может наносить урон лицам, применяющим эти ископаемые. Из-за запретов и ограничений теряется польза от использования ископаемых и в то же время не воспитывается сознательное отношение к охраняемым территориям. В статье представлен пример главных факторов, мешающих местным жителям участвовать в управлении ископаемыми. Факторы, оказывающие положительное или отрицательное воздействие на формирование сознательного отношения местных жителей к охраняемым территориям, анализируются на примере национального парка озера Ковада. На основании данных исследований 25% местных жителей положительно оценивают охрану национального парка озера Ковада, остальные – отрицательно. Статистически значимые различия найдены между этими двумя группами людей, чье представление основано на знаниях о национальном парке и наносимом ущербе.

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Investigating Geospatial Patterns of Elephant Crop Damage Adjacent to the Serengeti National Park and Grumeti Game Reserve, Tanzania

Journal of Environmental Informatics Letters ◽

10.3808/jeil.202000035 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

A. A. Mamboleo ◽

◽

C. Doscher ◽

A. Paterson ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Crop Damage ◽

Serengeti National Park ◽

Game Reserve

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Spatial aggregation and specificity of incidents with wildlife make tea plantations in southern India potential buffers with protected areas

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.5590.12.11.16478-16493 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 16478-16493

Author(s):

Tamanna Kalam ◽

Tejesvini A. Puttaveeraswamy ◽

Rajeev K. Srivastava ◽

Jean-Philippe Puyravaud ◽

Priya Davidar

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Wildlife Conservation ◽

Conservation Education ◽

Southern India ◽

Crop Damage ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Number Of Species ◽

Wildlife Damage ◽

Tea Plantations ◽

The Nilgiris

Abstract: Many wildlife species survive in human-modified landscapes and understanding the opinions of those who share space with wildlife will aid conservation efforts. Using a questionnaire, we assessed the presence of 12 mammal species in 78 tea plantations in the Nilgiris, southern India. We obtained data on (i) plantation size, location, and elevation, (ii) species presence over a year, (iii) type and number of wildlife incidents caused, (iv) financial cost of wildlife damage, and (v) support for wildlife conservation. We used a generalized linear model to assess whether the distance to protected areas, elevation, and plantation size influenced species presence and the effect of these variables and wildlife incidents on support for conservation. Among all species reported, Bonnet Macaque, Wild Boar, and Porcupine were the most widespread, and the former two and the Gaur reportedly caused >50% of damages. Crop damage was the most frequent (74%, n = 244), whereas livestock predation, attacks on people, and infrastructure damage constituted <10% of incidents reported. The cost of wildlife damage was negligible for 72 estates and significant for six. The number of species increased with proximity to protected areas, with increasing elevation and plantation area. Plantation management (62%) supported wildlife conservation, and support increased with decreasing plantation size, increasing distance to protected areas, and with a higher number of species reported, but decreased with increasing incidents of wildlife damage. Mitigating impacts of a few widely distributed species that cause disproportionate damage and compensating those that incur disproportionately high costs could increase support for conservation. Education and awareness programs for the plantation community can further help increase support and participation in wildlife conservation activities. Plantations can thus serve as supplementary habitats for wildlife in regions where hard boundaries between protected areas and human settlements prevail.

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Human and wildlife usage of a protected area buffer zone in an area of high immigration

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605313000215 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 504-513 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Andrew J. Bamford ◽

Daniella Ferrol-Schulte ◽

Jennifer Wathan

Keyword(s):

Population Growth ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Wildlife Management ◽

Protected Area ◽

Rural Economy ◽

Buffer Zone ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Local People ◽

Game Reserve ◽

Management Area

AbstractPopulation growth near protected areas threatens the capacity of such areas for biodiversity conservation. Protected areas may even encourage growth by providing economic benefits that attract migrants. Consequently, understanding the relationships between human demographics and biodiversity is important for conservation. We studied a community-governed Wildlife Management Area bordering the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania, set up to benefit local people and the subsistence rural economy. Annual population growth in this area is 5%. We used a combination of ecological and socio-economic surveys to determine the causes of this growth and its effect on wildlife in the Wildlife Management Area. One-third of local people interviewed were immigrants to the area. Population growth appeared to be unrelated to the protected area; instead an increasing proportion of immigrants cited readily available land as their reason for moving. Pastoralism was associated with fewer signs of large grazing mammals and elephants Loxodonta africana and agriculture was associated with fewer signs of elephant and buffalo Syncerus caffer but more signs of other ungulates. Few residents were aware of the Wildlife Management Area and few received any benefits from wildlife and therefore had little reason to conserve it. This situation is attributable to poor management of the Wildlife Management Area. Detrimental effects of human activity could spread to the Selous Game Reserve if population growth continues. However, natural resources could benefit residents if properly managed. Interactions between human demographics and protected areas are complex and may be best managed on a case-by-case basis.

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Community attitudes toward three protected areas in Upper Myanmar (Burma)

Environmental Conservation ◽

10.1017/s0376892906003389 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 344-352 ◽

Cited By ~ 89

Author(s):

TERI ALLENDORF ◽

KHAING KHAING SWE ◽

THIDA OO ◽

YE HTUT ◽

MYINT AUNG ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Crop Damage ◽

Wildlife Sanctuary ◽

Community Attitudes ◽

Dry Zone ◽

Negative Perceptions ◽

Local Residents ◽

Highly Correlated ◽

People’S Attitudes

An effective protected area system is essential for the long-term conservation of Myanmar's biodiversity. This study examined the attitudes of 2915 residents in 97 communities around three protected areas (PAs) in upper Myanmar: Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park in the western mountains, Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary in the hills bordering the Chindwin and Uru rivers, and Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary in the central dry zone. Logistic regression indicated a positive attitude toward the PAs was most highly correlated with a perception of conservation benefits and benefits resulting from management of the areas. Attitude was also significantly correlated with a perception of extraction benefits, conflicts with PA staff and crop damage by wildlife. Socioeconomic variables were less powerful than perceptions in predicting attitude and, unlike perceptions, their effects varied among the areas. The much greater effect of perceptions, especially positive ones, on people's attitudes indicates that understanding perceptions is important to improving the relationship between local residents and these PAs. This finding underscores the fact that a focus on conflicts to understand people's attitudes toward PAs may undervalue or miss critical positive perceptions that people hold. Understanding local residents' perceptions of PAs makes possible the creation of strategic, place-based management strategies that build on people's positive perceptions and mitigate their negative perceptions.

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The Perceived Benefits of Protected Areas in the Virunga-bwindi Massif

Environmental Conservation ◽

10.1017/s0376892918000309 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 76-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sarah Tolbert ◽

Wellard Makambo ◽

Stephen Asuma ◽

Altor Musema ◽

Benjamin Mugabukomeye

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Mountain Gorilla ◽

Local Perceptions ◽

Sustainable Livelihoods Framework ◽

Equity Research ◽

Human And Social Capital ◽

Integrated Conservation ◽

The Relationship ◽

Integrated Conservation And Development ◽

Livelihoods Framework

SummaryDespite decades of continuous research highlighting the biological success of mountain gorilla conservation in the Virunga-Bwindi Massif, there is little knowledge of whether people living near the mountain gorilla parks perceive benefits from protected areas (PAs). This paper is the first study in the region to use the sustainable livelihoods framework to understand drivers of local perceptions of PA benefits. We used a logit regression to examine the relationship between household socioeconomic characteristics and the costs and benefits that 752 men and women living near mountain gorilla PAs reported. Integrated conservation and development projects (ICDPs) in the Virunga-Bwindi Massif have improved perceptions of mountain gorilla PAs, but they need to prioritize projects that improve human and social capital. The frustration voiced about inequitable benefit distribution highlights the need for further social equity research to ensure ICDPs, including revenue-sharing schemes, are managed transparently and equitably.

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