Escalating human-wildlife conflict in Wolong Nature Reserve, China: a dynamic and paradoxical process

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) has become a conservation focus for both protected area management and local communities in many parts of the world. The incidence and mediation of HWCs is rooted in coupled environmental and socio-economic contexts. A systematic analysis of HWCs was undertaken in 2016 in the Wolong Nature Reserve located in Sichuan Province, southwestern China. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 201 local households to understand the occurrence of wildlife damage, the wildlife species involved, the typical losses incurred, and the mitigation measures employed. Results revealed that local HWC has increased rapidly in recent years due to effective biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration policies. Despite the widespread occurrence of HWCs, nearly all respondents stating that they had suffered a financial loss, appropriate compensation schemes are lacking. Local respondents’ expected compensation amount and style were investigated and it was concluded that integrated compensation and community development plans are needed to mediate and resolve HWC. In particular, greater attention should be given to reducing local households’ dependence on agriculture and transforming local livelihood strategies to alternative economic activities not related to farming.

人兽冲突（Human-wildlife conflict, HWC）已成为全球众多地区保护区管理与当地社区共同关注的保护议题。人兽冲突的发生与调解机制，根植于环境与社会经济耦合的复杂背景之中。2016年，研究团队针对中国西南四川省卧龙国家级自然保护区内的人兽冲突开展了系统性分析。研究对201户当地农户开展半结构化访谈，以摸清野生动物破坏事件的发生情况、涉事野生动物物种、典型受损状况及已实施的缓解措施。研究结果显示，得益于有效的生物多样性保护与生态修复政策，近年来该区域的人兽冲突呈快速上升趋势。尽管人兽冲突普遍发生，且几乎所有受访农户均表示自身遭受了经济损失，但当前仍缺乏适配的补偿机制。研究还调研了当地农户对补偿金额与补偿方式的预期，并得出结论：需构建整合式补偿与社区发展方案，以调解并解决人兽冲突问题。尤其应重点降低当地农户对农业生产的依赖，推动当地生计模式转型，转向与农耕无关的替代性经济活动。