Ecoexist: Environmental decision Making: Elephant Conservation: Human elephant conflict mitigationPhD Fellow: Ecoexist www.ecoexistproject.org
Aug. 2016 - Sep. 2020Okavango Delta BotswanaPhD research was focused on improving elephant conservation outcomes mainly by reducing human-elephant conflict. The research further focused on reducing the vulnerability of subsistence farmers to poverty, hunger and most importantly food security challenges arising from elephant crop raiding. The projects explored cropping strategies as a tool for reducing human-elephant conflict, particularly crop raiding. My aim was to evaluate how different cropping strategies, crops of different maturity timelines and alternative crops influenced the farmers vulnerability to elephant crop raiding. These experiments were conducted in trial plots near elephant corridors in the Eastern Okavango Panhandle. Studies also involved oral questionnaires to understand historical perspective on farming in the area, how people are changing their cropping methods in relation to increasing numbers of elephants, peopleโs perceptions, opinions and decisions towards different, current and proposed agricultural strategies.