Vulnerability of Agricultural Households to Human–Wildlife Conflicts around Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in Northern Benin

Abstract

The Pendjari Biosphere Reserve is one of the protected areas of Benin where biodiversity conservation policies intertwine with the economic development of local populations. It is located in the Atacora region in northern Benin, which has a high prevalence of poverty and food insecurity among households. Agriculture and livestock farming are the primary activities of the local communities in the villages surrounding the reserve. However, wild animals sometimes cause damage to people’s fields or livestock. To deal with the damage caused by wild animals, local populations have developed several mitigation measures that may not be effective, leading them into a vulnerable situation. Vulnerability is often associated with the impacts of natural disasters and their management, anticipation, and recovery. In the context of human–wildlife conflict, vulnerability refers to the level of risk farmers face from issues such as crop raiding, livestock depredation, and human injury caused by wildlife, as well as farmers’ ability to cope with such damage. To assess the vulnerability of households, we used the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI). Data were collected from July to December 2019 through questionnaires and interviews. We surveyed 320 households to collect data on their socio-demographics, livelihoods, social networks, natural capital, food and water security, and the incidence and severity of human–wildlife conflicts. The results showed that farmers around the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve are highly sensitive to human–wildlife conflicts, with a low adaptive capacity, revealing their vulnerability. More precisely, farmers are vulnerable in terms of major components of the LVI such as water, food, social networks, and livelihoods. Conservation policies are expected to pay more attention to local populations’ vulnerability to human–wildlife conflicts in order to improve their tolerance towards wildlife and guarantee the success of conservation efforts.