Meeting ID: 947 1981 0189
Passcode: 157002
Summary:
Human–wildlife conflict (HWC) poses a significant challenge to biodiversity conservation, threatens the livelihoods of communities and is influenced by many factors, including ecological, political, economic, social, institutional, cultural, and historical features. This research draws insights from Feminist Political Ecology (FPE) to examine the impact of HWC on men and women around the Kakum Conservation Area (KCA), Ghana. Data from KCA staff and locals living near the park was collected through interviews, participant observation, focus-group discussions, and document review. The results indicate that in many households, crop-raiding by elephants has a negative impact on food availability and economic stability in communities. I also show how HWC has a negative impact on people's physical and mental health. These concerns originate from the prospect of being harmed or killed by elephants. Further, I examined why individuals are drawn to alcohol as a maladaptive coping technique in their daily life and demonstrate how attempts to limit HWC and reduce crop-raiding result in an increased risk of mosquito-borne diseases and fatigue. Also, the findings reveal that crop raiding impacts communities by lowering farmers' social standing, community cohesion, social mobility, and education. I discuss the elements that contribute to HWC-related risks and vulnerabilities. I further outline the two principal means by which HWC contributes to HWC related vulnerabilities: (a) higher exposure and (b) diminished capacity for adaptation. On the one hand, inequalities exist based on criteria such as gender; on the other hand, age and socioeconomic position interact with gender to produce additional disparities and vulnerabilities. I explain, using the concept of intersectionality, that the relationship between HWC and social economic inequality is a vicious loop in which pre-existing inequality is exacerbated by HWC. My interactions with people indicate that HWC is connected to a broader set of issues related to social and economic circumstances. Thus, multiple stressors combine to exacerbate HWC related risks and vulnerabilities.
Defense committee:
Supervisor: Dr. Brandon Anthony, Dept of Environmental Sciences and Policy at CEU
Internal Member: Dr. Guntra Aistara, Dept of Environmental Sciences and Policy at CEU
External Member: Dr. Edward Wiafe Debrah, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Ghana
Opponent: Eszter Tormáné Dr. Kovács, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő