Levels of Conflict Over WIldlife: Understanding and Addressing the Right Problem
Publisher: Conservation Science and Practice
Author(s): Alexandra Zimmermann, Brian McQuinn, and David W. Macdonald
Date: 2020
Topics: Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation, Programming, Renewable Resources
Human–wildlife conflicts are complex and defy simple explanations and solu-tions. The fields of conflict analysis and peacebuilding offer insights into theintensity, intractability, and possible approaches to addressing different kindsof conflict. Building on these fields, as well as advances in conservation prac-tice, we adapt a framework for human–wildlife conflict that consists of threelevels of conflict over wildlife: Level 1 conflicts are disputes over issues such ascrop or livestock loss or concerns about safety, yet typically involve relativelyhigh tolerance of the damage-inducing species. In level 2 conflicts, in additionto visible impact of wildlife, there is a history of unsatisfactory attempts toaddress these issues, creating underlying resentment, tensions, and a sense ofinjustice among at least one of the parties. Level 3 conflicts are deep-rootedand become intertwined with the identities of the parties and communityinvolved, and extend to broader tensions over social identities and clashingvalues and beliefs. Such conflicts require mediated reconciliation dialogues andconflict transformation approaches. A structured understanding how to addressa conflict before it escalates to a deeper level is fundamental for managing con-servation challenges as complex and dynamic as conflicts over wildlife