Wildlife and people: FAO sharing conflict prevention methods

FAO expert Kristina Rodina provided an overview of problems in sustainable management of forest and wildlife resources, as well as FAO activities in this area during a live video presentation for students of the Department of Ecology and Nature Management of the Institute of Chemistry and Ecology of the Vyatka State University (located in the city of Kirov, Russian Federation).

The presentation offered by Rodina, FAO Forestry Officer and Coordinator of the Organization's Global Programme for Wildlife and Protected Area Management, was part of evolving cooperation between FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation and the Vyatka State University.

Having introduced FAO, its origins, mandate, mission and structure, the expert presented the main activities of the Organization’s Forestry Department in further detail. These include: 

• Increase and contribute to the sustainable management of forest resources
• Mitigate the effects of climate change and desertification processes
• Application and control of forest laws and regulation of illegal cuttings
• Improve sustainable management of native forests and increase green urban cover
• Protection of the natural resources and management of the National Protected System of Wild Areas
• Protect forest ecosystems and environmental heritage from damage caused by forest pests and fires
• Interdisciplinary issues (agroforestry, Biosafety, urban and suburban forestry, mountains/ watersheds).

The core of Rodina’s presentation was a topic that was rather new to the student audience: “FAO’s experience in preventing conflicts between wild animals and humans.”

The nature of these conflicts varies. It may be “the destruction of crops and livestock, which causes material damage.” Or it may be linked to the emergence of a “threat to human life.” Occasionally, predators become carriers of diseases. It is not uncommon for humans to kill animals “in retaliation,” the expert noted.

The causes of conflicts are multifaceted. Human factors include:

• Conversion of forests, savannas and other ecosystems into agricultural areas or urban settlements;
• Population migration for security reasons (droughts, floods, civil unrest, natural disasters or wars);
• Growing interest in ecotourism and increasing presence of humans in protected areas.

There are also factors associated with changes in the natural habitat:

• Anthropogenic impact on nature;
• Droughts, fires, climate change; and  
• Other unpredictable natural disasters.

As examples of modern measures of protection and conflict prevention Kristina Rodina cited the construction of various fences, in particular, the use of rows of beehives for these purposes;  monitoring migration of specific animals with GPS collars and TV cameras. The FAO expert used photos from her own portfolio, collected in the course of missions to African countries, in particular, Zimbabwe.

The video presentation ended with audience Q&A session.