Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is increasing globally. Projects within the Global Wildlife Program have identified the need for a HWC database that compiles data from multiple years and different protected areas to map conflict hotspots and prioritize interventions. However, challenges including the lack of standardized data collection systems, inadequate training and capacity, and insufficient resources have hampered efforts to create national-level databases in most countries. This knowledge exchange was organized to highlight successful HWC databases with the aim of inspiring other projects and countries to invest in developing their own HWC databases.
A HWC database can provide a comprehensive view of the context, scale, and trends of HWC in a country. Developing such a database has many benefits – from predictive analysis of where HWC can occur to resource allocation, supporting compensation and insurance schemes, and monitoring and evaluation. Yet, not many countries have such a database. The GWP hosted a virtual knowledge exchange where the governments of Namibia and Uganda presented their experiences in developing and maintaining such databases. The event was attended by 70 participants from 23 GWP countries.
Brief description of the HWC database in Uganda
The Uganda Wildlife Authority maintains an excel with HWC information aggregated from protected areas. Rangers fill out a form that contains information on the date of the incident, the protected area, the district, the sub-country/ parish, the village, the species that caused the conflict, impacts (crop damage or death), and submit this form to the warden, who sends it to the head office where the data is analyzed, and reports are submitted to management. The database also includes information on the action taken, which is helpful for understanding what works and does not for HWC management and mitigation. One of the challenges with the database is lack of the integration with other systems set up by stakeholders and partners but the hope is to invest in bringing this data and information together across these platforms.
Brief description of HWC database in Namibia
Namibia has a web and mobile application hosted on the government server that aggregates HWC information from conservancies. Namibia has a HWC policy that emphasizes the importance of data collection, so in partnership with GIZ, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism set up a database two years ago. Each conservancy in Namibia has an HWC account with a lump sum of money made available by the government to offset HWC losses. When an incidence occurs, a game guard who is trained in investigations and data collection fills a form (see link ), and all the forms are recorded in an HWC register for that conservancy. At the head office, information from these HWC registers are aggregated into the database. The online database (built by a local company in Namibia) has an inbuilt document management system where copies of the HWC forms and HWC registers can be found. For data visualization, the application uses Power BI to generate charts useful for learning about HWC patterns and impacts.
Key highlights and takeaways for HWC database creation
A HWC policy is the impetus for a HWC database as it provides the legal and institutional framework for data collection and management. Without a policy, there is limited buy-in from management for setting up a database and the relevant stakeholders are not mandated to collect the data.
Creating a database requires bringing stakeholders together, especially those who will be key to maintaining the database. This includes rangers, wardens, national park authorities, donors, NGOs, etc. Decisions on what information should be collected and how it should be collected need to be collectively made by these stakeholders.
Training is crucial, especially for those who are going to collect the data but also those involved in analyzing and managing the data.
Standardizing data collection methods allows for consistent, and comparable data across regions and stakeholders.
Data integration of a given system with other platforms such as SMART, EarthRanger is helpful, but integration should not be a barrier to a database being created.
Welcome by Hasita Bhammar, Global Wildlife Program
Presentations by:
Sharon Kagwisa, Ag Manager, Human-Wildlife Conflict Management, Uganda Wildlife Authority
Richard Fryer, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Control Warden – Human Wildlife Conflict and Conservation Hunting, Namibia??
Innocent Haingura, Senior Technical Advisor – Community Conservation Governance and Livelihood Diversification, GIZ, Namibia
Q&A
The presentation can be accessed .
