Policy

To contribute to scientifically-based policy development across the world, the IUCN Species Survival Commission Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group (HWCCSG):

Influences international policy-making by providing policy and technical advice to key stakeholders. We do this by producing position statements, briefing papers and information documents.
Acts as a focal point for policy instruments on human-wildlife conflict-related matters, particularly the IUCN Resolution on human-wildlife conflict and the human-wildlife conflict-related Target in the CBD Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Coordinates the development of the human-wildlife conflict indicator in the Monitoring Framework of the CBD Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Facilitates national policy development and implementation by liaising with national focal points to collaborate in fostering science-policy links and assist governments worldwide in their efforts to develop national policies for managing human-wildlife conflict.

Policy & Briefing Documents

Events

Past events

Initiatives

HWC Indicator Development

To assist the CBD Secretariat, Parties and the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on indicators for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (AHTEG) with the development of an indicator that both accurately reflects the nature of HWC and is realistic and feasible for Parties, the IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group plans to continue convening discussions by organising a number of technical workshops leading up to COP16. This process is envisioned to be participatory and inclusive, keeping in mind that the methods underpinning the HWC indicator will likely continue to evolve and become more accurate, refined, and comparable over time. The first online workshop was held in June 2022. A summary of the discussions can be found here.

HWC target in CBD Global Biodiversity Framework

Prior to the COP 15 to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group published a series of documents calling for the inclusion of human-wildlife conflict in the Framework, with recommendations on the wording of the Target and key considerations for developing HWC indicators.

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (CBD/COP/15/L.25) now for the first time includes HWC under Target 4.
‘’Ensure urgent management actions to halt human-induced extinction of known threatened species …….., and effectively manage human-wildlife interactions to minimize human-wildlife conflict for coexistence.’’

IUCN World Conservation Congress Resolution on HWC

IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group
acts as a focal point for the IUCN Resolution (WCC 2020 Res 101) on Addressing human-wildlife conflict that calls on the global community to recognise HWC as a rapidly growing cause of wildlife declines and population disruptions in the freshwater, marine and terrestrial realms, as well as a threat to sustainable development, food security, public safety, the rights of wildlife to exist in the landscape, and biodiversity conservation. The resolution was adopted by 99% approval vote at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2020 in Marseille, France.

See and download the Resolution here.

Focal Points

Focal Points are post-holders in governments, intergovernmental or other organisations that work extensively on HWCC-related matters. Focal Points are not Members (and not expected to commit time in the same manner) but are liaisons between governments and the specialist group, encouraged to bring to the Specialist Group’s attention needs identified by their government or agency and collaborate in fostering science-policy links and participating in HWC-related aspects of the CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework implementation. Focal Points are invited and welcomed to sessions of Annual Meetings, regional Focal Point meetings (to be developed) and International Conferences.