Wildlife and Land Use Conflicts in the Mbam and Djerem Conservation Region, Cameroon: Status and Mitigation Measures.

This study identified actual and potential resource-use conflicts around the Mbam and Djerem National Park, Cameroon and elucidated ways of mitigating them. Informal interviews were conducted and questionnaires were administered to 263 households from 11 communities. Ninety-one percent of respondents had experienced crop depredation from wildlife over the past two years. A negative relationship was found between distance to park border and the percentage of respondents reporting crop damages by wildlife. Sixty-four percent of respondents reported a positive relationship with conservation authorities, and 38% perceived benefits from the park. More than 95% of respondents in villages closer to the South and West limits of the park reported to perform traditional rituals in the park, although this is currently illegal. Conservation staff reported encroachment into the park by seasonal livestock herders. A participatory zoning plan, strategies for crop compensation, and a conflict management agency should be established at a local level. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]