S3|EP21 - Tackling Human-Wildlife Conflict and Illegal Wildlife Trade in Africa | Maurice Schutgens | Space for Giants

Welcome to this insightful episode of Think Wildlife Podcast, where we delve deep into the pressing issues of human-wildlife conflict, illegal wildlife trade, and conservation efforts in Africa. In this episode, we speak with Maurice Schutgens, Managing Director of Conservation at Space for Giants, an organization dedicated to preserving Africa’s iconic megafauna and landscapes.

We explore the complex dynamics of human-elephant conflict, the innovative strategies used to mitigate these conflicts, and how nature-based economies are reshaping conservation in Africa. Additionally, we discuss the illegal wildlife trade and the policies and enforcement mechanisms helping to curb it.

1. Human-Wildlife Conflict in Africa: Causes and Consequences

Human-wildlife conflict is a growing concern across Africa as human settlements expand into wildlife habitats. In regions like Kenya, Uganda, and Gabon, elephants frequently encounter human communities, leading to crop destruction, property damage, and in some cases, fatalities.

2. Innovative Strategies: Smart Fencing and Conflict Mitigation

One of the primary solutions discussed in this episode is electric fencing. Space for Giants has pioneered a strategy known as smart fencing, which combines:

Solar-powered electric fencing to minimize environmental impact Outriggers and voltage optimization to effectively deter elephants Geospatial tracking and real-time monitoring to ensure fence effectiveness Data-driven decision-making to identify conflict hotspots

Maurice highlights case studies from Kenya and Gabon, where low-cost single-strand electric fences have demonstrated up to 95% effectiveness in preventing human-elephant conflict.

3. Conservation Investments and Nature-Based Economies

A major focus of this episode is the importance of long-term financial sustainability for conservation areas. Maurice explains how ecotourism, carbon credits, biodiversity credits, and sustainable wildlife economies play a role in maintaining Africa’s natural landscapes.

4. The Fight Against Illegal Wildlife Trade

The illegal wildlife trade has historically been a major threat to elephants, rhinos, and other endangered species. Maurice discusses the transformation of anti-poaching strategies over the past decade, including:

The shift from poaching as the primary threat to human-wildlife conflict taking center stage. He also elaborated about how community-led conservation and legal reforms are strengthening wildlife protection. Furthermore, we discuss the role of technology (e.g., SMART monitoring, EarthRanger) in anti-poaching efforts. Finally, we talk about the need for strong wildlife laws and consistent prosecution to deter poachers

Maurice explains how collaboration between conservation organizations, law enforcement, and governments has significantly reduced poaching rates and improved wildlife law enforcement in key regions.

Do tune in to this exciting episode!