A Socioecological Evaluation of Human – Wildlife Conflict: Globe to Village

Abstract

Human interactions with wildlife, especially megafauna like large carnivores, are increasing due to growing human populations and shrinking wildlife habitats. These interactions, termed as negative human-wildlife interactions or human-wildlife conflicts (HWCs), often lead to human injuries and deaths, raising concerns for both communities and conservation efforts. Research on HWC has largely focused on species-specific or human dimensions, often neglecting interconnected social and ecological factors. While socioecological approaches are emerging, studies integrating these aspects remain limited, particularly in carnivore conservation, where complex social-ecological interdependencies are critical. In India, the Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris) is responsible for significant human losses, threatening safety and complicating conservation. While tiger behavior is well studied, there remains a gap in understanding how locals perceive and handle human-tiger conflicts (HTCs), which is vital for successful conservation. This dissertation explores the social, ecological, economic, and cultural impacts of human-tiger interactions on a local scale, framed within the context of HWCs on a global scale, with the goal of providing insights for policymakers on conflict mitigation strategies. Specifically, I sought to address the following questions: 1) How are HWCs distributed globally? 2) What are villagers’ perceptions of HWCs, and what underrepresented conflict drivers can inform mitigation? 3) What transaction costs are involved in mitigation programs, and how can they be reduced? For the first chapter, I conducted a systematic review of articles on HWC published from 1990–2022. A total of 241 species were involved in HWC, including 7 critically endangered and 22 endangered species. More than 90% of the animals involved were mammals, with most conflicts occurring in Asia and Africa. For the second chapter, I conducted focused group discussions with residents in villages around Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and individual discussions with experts to create mental models of HTC. From a system thinking perspective, both experts and residents showed similar understandings of HTC complexity. Important factors identified for residents: fencing, early warning systems, and awareness measures. The factors for experts are different: pollution, climate change, and habitat quality. Due to power asymmetry, the groups identified different drivers and solutions: residents prioritized fuelwood collection and fencing, while experts focused on habitat quality and prey availability. For the third chapter, I developed a framework to quantify transaction costs in post-conflict compensation schemes. The framework includes nine components under 3 categories: reporting, verification, and compensation. I then tested the framework on HTCs near Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. After accounting for transaction costs, the net benefit for loss of human life is about 40% lower than intended, with an average delay of over three months (101 days). This dissertation integrates concepts from public participation, local ecological knowledge, conflict theory, power asymmetries, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and Coasian transaction cost theory into the framework of natural resource management. Based on my findings, I recommend that the agencies involved with conflict improve engagement with affected parties and integrate diverse knowledge systems into management and mitigation. The results not only inform global biodiversity conservation policies but are also tailored to address local-level needs, particularly for resource management and conflict policies in Uttar Pradesh and other states. Overall, this research provides actionable insights and recommendations for enhancing human-wildlife coexistence by reducing human-wildlife conflicts.