A presentation by Oliver Wilson-Holt, database editor of the People not Poaching initiative, providing a guided tour of the initiative to showcase community efforts to tackle illegal wildlife trade. She highlights a diversity of case studies that are responding to conflict between communities and wildlife. The presentation was given at a webinar on community-based approaches to tackling poaching and illegal wildlife trade hosted by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) on 30 March 2020. More details: https://www.iied.org/iied-webinar-community-based-approaches-tackling-poaching-illegal-wildlife-trade

1. www.iied.org @IIED
People not Poaching:
Community-based
approaches to tackling
illegal wildlife trade
A focus on human-wildlife conflict
30 March 2020
Liv Wilson-Holt – Olivia.WilsonHolt@iied.org

2. Liv Wilson-Holt
Part of IIED-led project: Learning and Action for
Community Engagement against IWT (LeAP).
People not Poaching (PnP) is a learning
platform designed to build a global evidence
base of case studies to understand how
communities are engaged in tackling IWT.
We want to understand what works, what
doesn’t work – and most importantly why – in
initiatives that have involved communities in
anti-poaching activities.
https://www.peoplenotpoaching.org/
What is People not Poaching?
2People not Poaching Webinar, 30 March 2020

3. Liv Wilson-Holt
Out of 98 case studies, 31 adopt at least one
anti-HWC strategy as part of their initiative to
tackle IWT.
Approaches include:
• Preventative measures
• Reactive measures
• Financial mitigation measures
• Physical separation of people (+livestock) and
wildlife
Nearly 1/3 of our case studies respond to the need
to decrease the costs of living with wildlife
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4. Liv Wilson-Holt
The majority of case studies are focused on elephants and big cats – with a few exceptions.
Corrals and other forms of predator-proofing measures are widely used. Many initiatives
have also formed rapid response units to both patrol HWC hotspots and respond to incidents
quickly.
Financial mitigation strategies, such as livestock insurance schemes and predator
compensation funds, can also be effective particularly if communities are involved in their
design and management.
Initiatives hope to both reduce incidents of HWC and change negative attitudes towards
wildlife – we have some great examples of success.
There are common themes across case
studies
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5. Liv Wilson-Holt
The projects work across mountainous regions
in central Asia.
Predator-proof livestock enclosures are a
common and immediate approach used to
reduce conflict.
But initiatives also recognise that communities
need financial incentives to reduce retaliatory
killings due to livestock predation.
Three of our case studies are aimed at protecting
snow leopards and supporting local livelihoods
Snow leopards are caught on camera traps. Credit: Nuzar
Oshurmamadov
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6. Liv Wilson-Holt
Deterrents range from planting non-palatable crops, proofing grain stores and water supplies, and
constructing chili pepper and beehive fences. Other approaches include patrols by eco-guards or
community volunteers.
Case studies show elephants are a problem
species for communities in Africa and Asia
Bornean elephants. Photo credit: HUTAN/Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation
Programme
Two of our case studies use a multi-
strategy approach:
• Kinabatangan Orangutan
Conservation Programme
• Wildlife protection in the Lower
Zambezi
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7. Liv Wilson-Holt
Whale sharks frequently become entangled in nets,
which if damaged can lead to killing of the species by
fishermen.
In response, two case studies – from Venezuela and
India – have both implemented a compensation scheme
for fishermen whose nets are damaged or ruined by
whale sharks, although with different levels of success.
The schemes also help to document whale shark
numbers as fishermen use photographs to provide
evidence to claim compensation.
Conflict also occurs in the ocean, as two
whale shark case studies illustrate
CIT. Credit: CIT
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8. Liv Wilson-Holt
• Resources
• Country profiles with relevant policies, strategies and legislation
• Events
People not Poaching also has range of
other features
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9. Liv Wilson-Holt
Resources
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10. Liv Wilson-Holt
Country profiles
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11. Liv Wilson-Holt
Country profiles
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12. Liv Wilson-Holt
Events
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13. Liv Wilson-Holt
Head to our
contribute page or
get in touch at
peoplenotpoaching
@gmail.com
We are
always
looking for
new case
studies and
resources!
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14. Liv Wilson-Holt 14People not Poaching Webinar, 30 March 2020

15. Liv Wilson-Holt
Follow us on social media
• Twitter @CommunitiesIWT
• Facebook @peoplenotpoaching
Sign up to our newsletter on our home page: peoplenotpoaching.org
Keep in touch!
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16. Liv Wilson-Holt
Any questions?
Thank you!
Get in touch at:
peoplenotpoaching@gmail.com @CommunitiesIWT @peoplenotpoaching
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