Impacts of Wildlife on the Livelihood of Communities Living Near Protected Areas in Ethiopia, Control Measures and Its Implication for Conservation

Abstract

Even though, the conflict between human and wildlife occurs worldwide, it is intense in the developing countries like Ethiopia, where livestock rearing and agriculture are important parts of rural people's livelihoods and income. Particularly, increasing human population has resulting pressure on land under cultivation and increased the degree of conflicts between human and wildlife. Hence, the livelihoods of communities living adjacent to protected areas have been affected because of destruction and damage of property and infrastructure; like agricultural crops, plantations, grain stores, fencing, livestock depredation and transmission of disease to domestic animals and leading to additional labor costs for guarding farm lands and livestock’s. Therefore, to reduce the negative impacts of wildlife on human; governmental and non-governmental organization, conservation organizations, the scientific community, wildlife managers, tourism industry operators, rural communities living clos to protected areas and other stakeholders should collaborate to safeguard rural livelihoods, reduce their vulnerability, and counterbalance losses with benefits and practice the implementation of community-based participatory conservation approach.

Keywords/Phrases: Ethiopia, Human-wildlife conflict, protected area, Wildlife impact,

DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/55-01

Publication date:May 31^st 2019