Introduction
The successful conservation of wildlife and the well-being of communities living adjacent to protected areas largely depends on the extent to which the communities and wildlife themselves can coexist. Where coexistence fails, human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) arise. Almost every country in the world faces some form of HWC, and highly biodiverse, developing countries like Zimbabwe particularly struggle with this issue. HWC is one of the major challenges experienced by communities living adjacent to wildlife areas across the country. HWC often severely impacts the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the people who live alongside wildlife and whom we ask for support for wider conservation goals. Developing solutions for HWC has therefore become an urgent conservation priority in countries endowed with high biodiversity. Against this background, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under its Resilience through Accelerating New Community-based Holistic Outcomes for Resource Sustainability (Resilience ANCHORS) Activity, commissioned a study which was conducted by [REDACTED] to understand HWC in communities living around wildlife areas in Zimbabwe.
Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this study was to provide the Resilience ANCHORS Activity with detailed information on the status, nature and dynamics of HWC, how it is experienced and how communities living in and adjacent to HWC hotspots across Zimbabwe are affected. Knowledge gained from this study will inform the design and implementation of a suite of strategies and interventions, including HWC mitigation to be implemented under the Resilience ANCHORS Activity. The goal will be to increase the capacity of these local communities to coexist and sustainably protect and manage wildlife and other natural resources. The study will also guide HWC management in the HWC hotspots through the provision of primary evidence and also feed into ongoing national legal and policy reforms that include review of the Parks and Wildlife Act and the review and possible drafting of a new Wildlife Policy for Zimbabwe.