To develop a holistic, integrated, participatory and inclusive HWC management approach based on the revision of the Safe Systems approach (SSA).

The C2C: Conflict to Coexistence approach is an integrated, stepwise approach to enable systematic human-wildlife conflict (HWC) management planning, implementation, and monitoring. It provides clear, stepwise guidance for effective HWC management actions, facilitates integrated and holistic approaches in a participatory and inclusive manner and provides a template for moving towards coexistence with the flexibility to tailor it to different scales and contexts across different regions. 
The approach has been developed by the WWF network in collaboration with conservation partners and a number of external ecologists and social scientists. I supported this process from 2022 to 2025 as external consultant, trained and supported five pilot sites and developed in person and online training formats on the approach.
More information on the C2C approach | WWF

To support Noé / ZahSoo National Park management unit, Chad in developing immediate actions and a long-term human-elephant conflict management strategy that addresses the root causes of conflict in a holistic and participatory way.

The assignment was carried out through a combination of document review, on-site situation analysis, stakeholder consultations, and participatory planning workshops. Existing knowledge on HEC drivers and impacts was synthesized, critical gaps were identified, and immediate needs for conflict mitigation were assessed. Field visits, expert discussions, and stakeholder meetings informed the development of a holistic, integrated, and participatory HEC management approach. Outputs included a draft outline for an HEC management scheme, identification of priority actions, and capacity building measures to support the Zah Soo team in moving towards the implementation phase. Continuous remote support was provided to ensure the validation and operationalization of the proposed strategy.

Support rolling out the Conflict to Coexistence (C2C) process in the Congo Basin through capacity building, team coaching, collection of lessons learned, support to the development of meaningful HWC management strategies, and stakeholder engagement.

Forest elephants are a critically endangered species – their numbers are dwindling, yet they are increasingly involved in negative interactions with people. Pushed from their natural habitats for multiple reasons, such as changes in food availability (e.g. fruits) due to climate change and disturbance due to logging and illegal hunting activities, or lured to attractive plantations and food crops, they are now considered too numerous and difficult to coexist with in many regions of the Congo Basin.
Finding ways for forest elephant populations to survive the present and future challenges, and supporting local communities and indigenous peoples to improve their well-being in the presence of these important ecosystem engineers, can only be achieved through integrated, participatory action. In this WWF-led initiative, I support teams on the ground in facilitating multi-party stakeholder processes for coexistence.

Developing, compiling and writing the report on human-wildlife conflict (HWC) and coexistence for the global WWF network and UNEP, with aim to raise the profile and recognition of the topic on political levels, and to scale up on the professional and financial investment for HWC management and coexistence strategies.

The report was developed hand-in-hand with the WWF HWC working group, in close collaboration with about 20 WWF offices. More than 150 experts from 40 organisations in 27 countries were interviewed and their contributions integrated into the report. The report, A future for all - the need for human-wildlife coexistence, highlights that HWC is as much a development and humanitarian issue as a conservation concern and risks derailing the Sustainable Development Goals. The call to action emphasizes that if the world is to have a chance of meeting the SDGs by the 2030 deadline, HWC must be explicitly included in SDG implementation plans, as well as at the heart of the Convention on Biodiversity’s new framework. Managing HWC in this way can lead to opportunities and benefits not only for biodiversity and impacted communities, but for society, sustainable development, production, and the global economy at large.

Consultancy for the creation of a human-wildlife conflict management and human-wildlife coexistence outline for Niassa Special Reserve to serve the development of a General Management Plan.

A study on the status quo of human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) and its management in Niassa Special Reserve was conducted combining stakeholder mapping, qualitative expert interviews, and quantitative on-site data collection via trained enumerators using digital data collection tools. Recommendations for the development of a holistic and integrated HWC management system including alignment of legal frameworks, standardized monitoring, macro and micro level spatial planning and improved technical, social and financial strategies were delivered.

Support to the development of a National Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan for India as part of the GIZ Indo-German Biodiversity Programme.

In an extensive multi-stakeholder process goals and actions for the National Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategy and Action Plan (HWC-NAP) for India had been worked out. This document aims at facilitating a common understanding and consensus among key stakeholders in India, on key approaches and possible solutions for mitigating human-wildlife conflict. The HWC-NAP explains a holistic approach towards HWC management including five strategic priorities: addressing drivers, reducing direct pressures, information and data management, reduction of negative impacts, and strengthening financial and institutional structures.

The assignment included fine-tuning of the draft document, development of a logical framework, and the development of a monitoring and evaluation plan.

Review and analysis of the current situation of human-elephant conflicts and the mitigation strategies used, including HEC monitoring, technical and financial strategies as well as cultural, social and political dimensions.

Desktop study and literature review which relates to the current situation of conflicts between people and elephants in all 36 African elephant range countries and more than 20 qualitative interviews with representatives of different organisations and institutions.
Human-elephant conflict (HEC) includes crop and property damage and human fatalities on the one hand and retaliation and decreased tolerance on the other hand. It is a complex issue, involving not only behavioural and ecological aspects of a highly intelligent species but also social, cultural, political and economic levels. Strategies on the management of HEC need to take into consideration its complexity on all levels, closely monitor effects and changes and adapt management strategies accordingly. 

To support a pilot project by building capacity, gaining community support, and trialling human-wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation methods effectively before rolling them out to more communities. Focus species is the African elephant (Loxodonta africana).

HWC mitigation consultancy to assess and review requirements regarding the implementation of community-based strategies. Training on human-elephant conflict mitigation techniques, such as community-based guarding, chilli patrols, using chilli bombers, and elephant-safe grain stores. Consultancy on the development of an HWC monitoring scheme as well as on data collection for evaluation of mitigation strategies.  

To test a variety of medicinal and aromatic crops regarding their attractiveness to Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).
Farmers in the Gologath area, East of Kazirangha National Park, are suffering from frequent and severe crop damage by elephants. Traditional crop protection measures such as guarding and chasing away elephants, but also electrical fences are cost and labour intensive. The staple crop rice and the cash crop sugar cane are highly attractive to elephants, and will not lose their attractiveness through guarding. For this reason, the cultivation of crops, which are less attractive or even unpalatable to elephants, might offer an economically viable alternative. To accomplish this, we are exposing five different medicinal and aromatic crop types to large groups of wild elephants over a three year timeframe. 

Scientific and technical advice on experimental design, data collection and analysis.

To write and coordinate the illustration of a chilli bomber manual. The chilli bomber is a device used to shoot ping-pong balls, filled with a chilli oil extract, towards elephants, to chase them away from attractive crop fields, without hurting them. The original chilli bomber was developed by a group of experts in Zimbabwe, in collaboration with French agricultural research and international cooperation organization (CIRAD). Awely has modified and elaborately tested the chilli bomber.

Summary of basic knowledge on the construction, maintenance, handling of a chilli bomber to effectively ward off elephants from crop fields. The manual also includes a section on community-based guarding and the production of the non-lethal ammunition (chilli balls).