Competition between people and elephants for limited resources and space is high in the Okavango Delta Panhandle in northern Botswana. Indeed, human-elephant conflict (HEC) is now one of the most serious and challenging wildlife management and conservation issues in northern Botswana and as such, HEC research and mitigation have been highlighted as important activities by the Government of Botswana in the country’s Elephant Management Plan. Research investigating the patterns and underlying processes of HEC in the panhandle has been ongoing for four years, confirming competition is high.

However, we have also found that perceived conflict levels in the community are far greater than the frequency and intensity of actual damage occurring. There is a pressing need to find methods to reduce actual and perceived HEC in this area in order to reduce the overall competition. Community Based Conflict Management (CBCM), currently being used in Zambia, offers one possible solution to reduce actual and perceived HEC in Botswana. CBCM trials began in five villages in the Okavango panhandle in 2010. CBCM encourages farmers to actively guard their crops using a combination of strategies, reinforcing the use of current mitigation techniques, while encouraging improvement through innovation, diversification and development of recently designed tools and multiple technique strategies.

This project aims to continue and expand such trials to cover a further seven villages experiencing HEC in the area, and monitor the effectiveness of CBCM as an HEC mitigation strategy. We have twelve trained community enumerators who play an important role in monitoring HEC incidents and encouraging farmers to implement CBCM techniques. Essential training, employment and supervision during this innovative project will build capacity among these communities and empower farmers to play an active role in problem animal control activities.