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What we do

Aims & Objectives

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The IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group (formerly IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict Task Force) is an interdisciplinary expert-based advisory group and think tank that aims to support professionals working on human-wildlife conflict and coexistence by providing interdisciplinary guidance, resources, and capacity building. The group was established with the aim of fostering links between policy, science, and communities, and assimilating knowledge and capacity for human-wildlife conflict and coexistence management across the IUCN Commissions, Members, and the wider conservation community.

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The HWCCSG’s objectives are to: 1) act as an advisory body on matters of human-wildlife conflict and coexistence that can provide a platform for the exchange of best practice; 2) facilitate interdisciplinary approaches to human-wildlife conflict mitigation by encouraging the collaboration of experts from many different fields; and 3) build capacity by developing technical or framework guidance materials, training workshops and learning platforms. To this end, the HWCCSG has developed an online resource library, piloted training courses on human-wildlife conflict, published the IUCN SSC Guidelines on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence, and organised a major cross-sectoral International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence.

Outcomes

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The HWCCSG endeavours to work towards the following outcomes:

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  1.  An increased understanding and awareness of the    complexities of conflict and coexistence

  2. Development of specialist guidance and support for the management of human-wildlife conflict and coexistence

  3. Facilitation of more collaboration between practitioners and policy, science and communities

  4. More resources catalysed and effort committed to well-informed human-wildlife conflict and coexistence management

  5. Proactive and preventative mitigation of emerging human-wildlife conflicts

  6. An integration of effective human-wildlife conflict and coexistence policies into major biodiversity and development agendas

Activities

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The activities of the HWCCSG towards the above aims and outcomes include:

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  • developing interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships in human-wildlife conflict and coexistence regionally and globally, across SSC groups, IUCN Commissions and beyond

  • providing advice or assistance to organisations or governments working on human-wildlife conflict and coexistence where possible and appropriate

  • acting as a think tank on latest issues in human-wildlife conflict and coexistence, leading and partnering with researchers and organisations and new thinking to support policy and best practice

  • maintaining a resource library of literature, manuals and materials on human-wildlife conflict and coexistence

  • developing, designing, facilitating or participating in workshops, seminars, talks, events, symposia & networking opportunities on human-wildlife conflict and coexistence around the world

  • producing the IUCN definition and position statement on human-wildlife conflict

  • facilitating and advising matters concerning human-wildlife conflict and coexistence in global and national policy instruments such as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)

  • publishing the IUCN SSC Guidelines on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence, and assisting other IUCN SSC groups in the development of their taxon-specific human-wildlife conflict and coexistence guidelines or policies

  • leading and organizing the International Conferences on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence

Contacts

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The IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group is chaired by Dr Alexandra Zimmermann. The Programme Officer of the Specialist Group is Dr James Stevens and the Policy Officer is Luna Milatović. Please direct any enquiries to us at info@hwctf.org.

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