Biodiversity & Ecology

Journal of the Division Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology of Plants , Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg.

Food security Research article Open Access

Farmer-wildlife conflicts in rural areas of eastern Zambia

Vincent R. Nyirenda*, Christopher Kaoma and Sinyala Nyirongo

Article first published online: 24 April 2018

DOI: 10.7809/b-e.00331

*Corresponding author contact: vrnyirenda@hotmail.com

<< Volume 6

Biodiversity & Ecology (Biodivers. Ecol.)

Climate change and adaptive land management in southern Africa - assessments, changes, challenges, and solutions,
edited by Rasmus Revermann, Kristin M. Krewenka, Ute Schmiedel, Jane M. Olwoch, Jörg Helmschrot & Norbert Jürgens

Volume 6, pages 251-156, April 2018

PDF (2.9 MB)

English

Abstract: Agricultural production of smallholder farmers can be signifi cantly impacted by wildlife activity. In this study, we describe the forms of crop damages in the Lumimba Game Management Area in Lundazi District, Eastern Province of Zambia. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 131 randomly selected respondents. Crop damages are most frequent close to protected areas and decrease with increasing distances from these areas. As people invade habitats originally reserved for wildlife in order to cultivate food crops to support the growing human population, farmer-wildlife confl icts are likely to occur. Apart from confl icts over crops, local farmers illegally kill wild animals for bushmeat for economic reasons. A combination of countermeasures against crop damages may be eff ective at the farm level.

Portuguese

Resumo: A produção agrícola dos pequenos agricultores pode ser bastante afectada pela vida selvagem. Neste estudo, descrevemos os vários danos às culturas na Área de Gestão Cinegética de Lumimba, no distrito de Lundazi, Província Oriental da Zâmbia. Questionários semi-estruturados foram realizados a 131 pessoas seleccionadas aleatoriamente. Os danos às culturas são mais frequentes perto das áreas protegidas e diminuem com o aumento da distância a estas áreas. Uma vez que as pessoas invadem habitats originalmente reservados à vida selvagem, a fi m de cultivarem culturas que possam suportar a população humana em crescimento, é provável que ocorram confl ictos entre os agricultores e a fauna selvagem. Para além dos confl ictos devido às culturas, os agricultores locais matam ilegalmente animais selvagens para consumo por questões económicas. Uma combinação de contramedidas contra os danos agrícolas poderá ser efectiva ao nível da quinta.

Suggested citation:
Nyirenda, V.R., Kaoma, C. & Nyirongo, S. (2018) Farmer-wildlife conflicts in rural areas of eastern Zambia In: Climate change and adaptive land management in southern Africa – assessments, changes, challenges, and solutions (ed. by Revermann, R., Krewenka, K.M., Schmiedel, U., Olwoch, J.M., Helmschrot, J. & Jürgens, N.), pp. 251-156, Biodiversity & Ecology, 6, Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek. doi:10.7809/b-e.00331