Atténuation des Conflits Homme-lion dans la Zone Sud du Parc National de Waza

In december 2005, a (DAS-funded) workshop was organised by ROCAL ( West and Central African Lion Conservation Network) in Pendjari, Benin. The aim of the workshop to strenghten the network, to build the capacity of members through technical workshops and the presentation of five pilot projects for human-lion-conflict mitigation, executed by ROCAL members and local NGO's. These pilot projects will focus on improving collaboration between local livestock owners and protected area authorities in order to reduce damage to livestock and to reduce retaliatory poaching: good for local development and for lion conservation. One of the pilot projects was executed by Waza's conservation service in collaboration with the 'Comite de Concertation et de Gestion du Parc National de Waza et sa Zone Peripherique' (CCGPNW), a co-management structure for improved participation in park and bufferzone management created in 1998. The lion-livestock problem in Waza NP has been relatively well studied, the area of most intense conflict has been identified (an area called Abouli and surroundings). The pilot project focuses on this area, by assisting local communities to improve their corrals and assisting in securing the area. Eco-guards were hired to organise permanent patrols and assist herders in preventing lion attacks. These guards will also implement a damage monitoring system which will allow impact measurement that will serve as feedback to local communities and to other network members. The pilot project was very successful in reducing the number of illegal entrances in the park and reducing the number of livestock lost to predators. CCGPNW wants to expand the project to other 18 other villages around Waza. Ecoguards and herders will be recruited and trained and cattle owners will be trained in the construction of improved enclosures. Experiences will be exchanged between various communities around Waza and the general level of awareness with regard to the lions of Waza and their importance will be increased.

The aim of the project was to reduce the conflicts between lions and livestock owners in 18 villages around the Waza National Park. For this purpose, 6 eco-guards were trained to act as liaison between the communities and the park staff. 12 people were trained in imporving livestock enclosures. In the project area a total of 102 enclosures were built and as a result, there was no loss of livestock from the enclosures. In previous years more than CFA 20 million was lost due to lion predation from enclosures. The succes of the approach is visible in the fact that villagers outside the project area copied the intervention strategy and built another 39 improved enclosures. The reduction of livestock losses, combined with awareness raising activities and training of eco-guards, has reduced the conflicts between livestock owners, lions and the park management.