Preventing human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is a key sustainable development challenge in wildlife-rich countries such as Botswana. For example, when large, roving pachyderm populations travel along migratory corridors they can damage crops and livestock in subsistence farming areas. Botswana currently spends $6.8 million annually to compensate farmers for crop and livestock losses.

“There are many development benefits to be gained by fostering human-wildlife coexistence,” said Ruth Kagia, World Bank Country Director for Botswana. “By engaging communities, we are not only laying the foundations for sustainable rural development in biodiversity-rich areas but also helping to protect Botswana's unique patrimony of wildlife for posterity.”

Left unmanaged, HWC poses one of the major threats to the survival of elephants and large predator species such as lions.

The project will support focused interventions in 13 villages, with a combined population of 12,000 people, located along three primary wetlands in northern Botswana. The project areas are situated in demarcated wildlife management areas that have been established to serve as migratory corridors for facilitating wildlife movements between the network of parks and reserves. Botswana's unique environment and wildlife is an important source of tourism revenues estimated at $1.6 billion annually.

“This is long-term sustainable development in action. I applaud the Government of Botswana for their dedication and foresight in addressing human-wildlife coexistence,” said Inger Andersen, World Bank Director for Sustainable Development in the Africa Region.

Specifically, the project seeks to:

  • Enable 1,500 households to implement proven elephant-restraining techniques such as chili-pepper deterrence;

  • Strengthen eco-tourism related competencies of communities living in the project areas;

  • Improve extension service delivery for human-wildlife coexistence interventions by the Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) by providing training in strategic and operations management, mobilizing communities for proactive wildlife conflict interventions, and setting up geographical information system equipment and technical support, and

  • Implement a proactive communications strategy to engage stakeholders and disseminate project-related information for community engagement.

“When designing the project, we consulted extensively with communities and benefited from their knowledge,” said Juan Gaviria, World Bank Sector Leader for Sustainable Development. “Our interventions are focused on innovative and proactive human-wildlife coexistence techniques with proven potential.”

“When local communities are involved in addressing human wildlife conflict they are better positioned to take advantage of employment and income-generating opportunities offered from wildlife related tourism,” adds Karsten Feuerriegel, a World Bank biodiversity specialist and Project Leader located in Pretoria, South Africa.#