Determinants of human–wildlife conflict management in the Sheya shUushona Conservancy, Namibia

Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC) remains a critical environmental and socio-economic challenge, undermining conservation objectives and rural livelihoods, particularly in communities situated adjacent to protected areas. In Namibia, recurrent livestock predation has contributed to the decline of large predator populations, as affected farmers often resort to retaliatory killings. This study investigates how farmers' attitudes toward wildlife managers shape patterns of HWC within the Sheya shUushona Conservancy. Drawing on a qualitative research design, the study employed in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and secondary data sources to capture the nuanced social dynamics influencing conflict management. The main participants in the study were farmers. HWC event books at the conservancy office were used to purposively identify and select farmers who had reported HWC incidents in the preceding five years at the time of data collection. Participants were selected from different HWC hotspot areas across the conservancy. A total of 65 participants took part in the study. Thematic data analysis was used to analyse the collected data. Findings reveal that the relationship between farmers and wildlife managers is characterized by significant distrust driven by key factors including slow response times by wildlife managers to conflict incidents, dissatisfaction with the offset-payment compensation scheme, a perceived lack of tangible benefits from wildlife, the deteriorating condition of boundaries with the national park, and the expansion of human settlements into conservation areas. These localized institutional and social drivers exacerbate tensions and undermine collaborative conservation efforts. The study underscores the importance of localized context and trust in governance approaches to effectively mitigate HWC at the nexus of communities and protected areas.