par Walters, Giovanni 
Promoteur Huge, Jean
Co-Promoteur Vogel, Susanne;Dahdouh-Guebas, Farid
Publication Non publié, 2024-06-24
Promoteur Huge, Jean
Co-Promoteur Vogel, Susanne;Dahdouh-Guebas, Farid
Publication Non publié, 2024-06-24
Mémoire
| Résumé : | Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is a problem that threatens human life, livelihood, and global biodiversity conservation goals, which is compounded by competing interests involved with management/economics of conservation areas. HWC is present especially on the borders of protected areas (PAs), often when native communities have been displaced from the area and disconnected from previous resource use. In this case study, we explore the social-ecological dynamics in the management of wildlife in the Greater Kruger (GK) area, South Africa. Wildlife that leave the boundaries of PAs are deemed “damage-causing animals” and become the sole legal responsibility of the respective provincial authorities, yet many other private and public stakeholders are affected and involved in other ways. This study aims to 1) determine the attitudes and 2) attempt to deduce values of key stakeholders in the management of DCAs in the GK. Interviews were conducted with stakeholders involved with damage-causing animals and then manually coded, revealing four main themes: “Benefits (or lack of benefits) of Protected Areas for People”, “Land Management Issues”, “The Value of Wildlife”, and “Context and Capacity Building”. Historical and emerging issues are shown to remain present, including fence management, lack of compensation for communities, limiting legislation/funding, corruption, and growing wildlife populations on the border. We juxtapose these issues and stakeholder opinions using the four themes to reveal the current attitudes of those involved with damage-causing animals. Finally, we make recommendations based on our findings to optimize stakeholder trade-offs, prevent biodiversity loss, and incorporate (historically) marginalized communities into conservation. |
