A multi‐objective decision‐analysis framework for addressing human–wildlife conflicts

The costs and frequency of negative interactions between people and wildlife (that is, human–wildlife conflict or HWC) are increasing globally and hindering conservation efforts. Practitioners are challenged to manage wildlife populations and consider human health and livelihoods simultaneously. Principles and tools of conservation decision‐making can help relevant parties navigate the complexities, uncertainties, and difficult trade‐offs involved in managing HWC. To improve access to this potential, we developed a structured decision‐making framework for managing HWC that is transparent, locally adaptable, and informed by participatory processes. We illustrate the framework using African savanna elephant ( Loxodonta africana ), Bengal tiger ( Panthera tigris ), and white‐tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) as case studies to demonstrate its utility for conservation planning, rapid prototyping, and early identification of decision constraints. Our framework provides an adaptive approach for promoting human–wildlife coexistence, can aid in the preservation of biodiversity globally, and serves as a tool for managers and practitioners to manage HWC across multiple scales.