Around the globe, as human populations expand and natural habitats shrink, people and animals are increasingly coming into conflict over living space and food. This is also the case in Cameroon where there is a growing concern over human-wildlife conflict (HWC) in both forest and savannah ecosystems (Tchamba, 1995; Weladji & Tchamba, 2003; Foguekem, 2005).
Crop damage by elephants is one of the most prevalent forms of HWC in Cameroon and is particularly severe around protected areas. Farmers also report crop damage due to hippopotamus, apes and rodents, and livestock depredation by lions (Panthera leo) (Tumenta et al., 2013).
Due to a weak legal framework and poor institutional capacity to manage HWC, communities tend to take protection of crops and livestock into their own hands. However, the tools used by communities could be unsustainable and often need to be complemented by effective policy, including enhancing the legal and institutional frameworks and putting in place appropriate land-use planning approaches. Failure to do this risks increasing HWC, especially at the boundaries of protected areas, where communities do not receive sufficient conservation incentives from ecotourism or other interventions.
WWF Cameroon has helped the government of Cameroon elaborate and validate a HWC management strategy, which will soon be implemented nationwide.
Through our efforts, we are committed to help reinforce legal and institutional framework for HWC management in the country, aiming to help enact legislation that will set rules for the management of problem animals, clarification of compensation mechanisms, and definition of criteria for classification of “high conflict zone” and associated mitigation measures.
Crop damage by elephants is one of the most prevalent forms of HWC in Cameroon and is particularly severe around protected areas. Farmers also report crop damage due to hippopotamus, apes and rodents, and livestock depredation by lions (Panthera leo) (Tumenta et al., 2013).
Due to a weak legal framework and poor institutional capacity to manage HWC, communities tend to take protection of crops and livestock into their own hands. However, the tools used by communities could be unsustainable and often need to be complemented by effective policy, including enhancing the legal and institutional frameworks and putting in place appropriate land-use planning approaches. Failure to do this risks increasing HWC, especially at the boundaries of protected areas, where communities do not receive sufficient conservation incentives from ecotourism or other interventions.
WWF Cameroon has helped the government of Cameroon elaborate and validate a HWC management strategy, which will soon be implemented nationwide.
Through our efforts, we are committed to help reinforce legal and institutional framework for HWC management in the country, aiming to help enact legislation that will set rules for the management of problem animals, clarification of compensation mechanisms, and definition of criteria for classification of “high conflict zone” and associated mitigation measures.
