A review of climate change, human population growth and poverty as potential drivers of human wildlife conflicts in Africa
Leopody Gayo
Abstract
Human-wildlife conflicts (HWCs) pose significant socio-economic and ecological challenges across rural African communities. This review critically examines the synergistic effects of climate change, human population growth, and poverty in exacerbating human-wildlife conflicts in Africa. Specifically; it answered the following questions: (1) how do the combined effects of climate change, population growth, and poverty exacerbate human-wildlife conflicts in rural African communities? (2) What interventions have been implemented to address the synergistic impacts of climate change, human population pressure, and poverty on human-wildlife conflict incidents? Findings reveal that the interplay of climate change, human population expansion, and persistent poverty has created a vicious cycle that undermines both rural livelihoods and wildlife conservation. Climate change has heightened the unpredictability of weather patterns, causing resource scarcity for both people and wildlife. Human population growth drives habitat encroachment and land-use change, while poverty limits communities’ capacity to mitigate or recover from wildlife-induced losses. Although various intervention strategies exist, they are frequently hampered by implementation challenges, inadequate resources, and weak governance, leading to limited effectiveness in reducing human-wildlife conflicts. The study concludes by recommending the adoption of a comprehensive policy framework that embraces a multifaceted approach focusing on developing integrated land-use plans with wildlife corridors; empowering local communities through economic incentives and participatory governance; promoting alternative livelihoods such as eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture; supporting climate-resilient farming and water management practices; and formulating evidence-based national policies that integrate human-wildlife conflicts management into broader development and disaster risk reduction strategies.