Wildlife conservation activist, Anglistone Sibanda has underscored the pivotal role of community-led initiatives rooted in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in safeguarding biodiversity. In an interview, Sibanda said harmonizing human activities with wildlife habitats is essential to mitigate conflicts pointing to the wisdom embedded in Indigenous Knowledge.
“The Human and wildlife conflicts can be reduced if Communities play a leading role, using Indigenous Knowledge Systems in the conservation. For example, Elephants have their path that they have used for centuries, each herd led by a Matriarch passing knowledge from generation to generation and every year they use the same path. Conflict begins when humans fail to understand that and they start building settlements on that path.
“If communities are involved in decision making, such conflicts with wildlife can be abated,” Sibanda said he called for proactive engagement, leveraging local structures for education and awareness campaigns. “Education and awareness programs need to be scaled up, regular information dissemination activities need to happen at local level using local structures. A robust and effective conservation communication platform needs to be established by stakeholders in the conservation space to educate communities on how to abate human and wildlife conflicts and in turn protect livelihoods.
“Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Ecological Practices play a pivotal role in ensuring sustainability on the conservation practices. Settlement planning for example Batonga settlements used to be elevated above the ground which also applied to their goats and chickens. This protected their livestock from attacks by hyenas and jackal,” said Sibanda.
Sibanda’s advocacy extends to governance, urging governments to adopt modernized settlement plans rooted in inclusivity and sustainability. “Government needs to work on a modernized settlement or resettlement plan in rural communities. There is an urgent need for an inclusive and participatory approach to settlement plan to manage spacial development and create sustainability.
“The rule of law in the land allocation needs to be enhanced while educating traditional leaders on their roles and understanding of law in respect to allocation of land to put to an end the haphazard settlement that has been happening where corrupt local authorities and traditional leaders have been parcelling out land even on wetlands and protected areas,” he said.
Sibanda highlighted the need for clear regulations to curb haphazard settlements, promoting spatial planning that delineates conservation areas from human settlements. Such measures, including infrastructure like fencing, he said not only protect wildlife but also reduce disease transmission between wildlife and livestock, benefiting local communities.
Furthermore, Sibanda underscores the importance of legal frameworks in land allocation, advocating for transparency and accountability to prevent encroachment on protected areas. He calls for a national conservation platform to facilitate information sharing and collaborative dialogue towards sustainable conservation practices.
