Socioeconomic Impacts of Human–Wildlife Conflict and Conservation Challenges in and Around Ambessa Chaka Protected Area, Bambasi District, Beni Shangul Gumuz Reginal State, Ethiopia
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study aimed to assess the socioeconomic impacts of human-wildlife conflict and to evaluate the key conservation challenges in and around the Ambessa Chaka Protected Area, in Bambasi District. A mixed-methods research design was employed. Structured questionnaires were administered to 180 households, selected using systematic random sampling from three purposefully selected kebeles. Qualitative data were collected through 15 Key Informant Interviews and 6 Focus Group Discussions, involving a total of 48 individuals. To evaluate agricultural loss, a field assessment was conducted using nine systematic sampling plots (each 20 m × 20 m) established along a 1 km linear transect. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation (r), and chi-square tests were used to analyze the relationship between damage types and locations, while linear regression was employed to examine factors affecting community attitudes toward wildlife conservation. The findings indicate that the mean crop loss due to wildlife damage was 363.3 kg across the three study kebeles. Additionally, 78 livestock heads were lost within 4 years, resulting in an estimated loss of 1,952,500 Ethiopian birr in local markets. Proximity to the forest boundary was identified as a key indicator of conflict (r = -0.357, p < 0.001), meaning that as farmland became closer to the forest edge, the intensity of human-wildlife conflict increased, and vice versa. Olive baboons ( Papio anubis ) were recognized as the main crop raiders, while lions ( Panthera leo ) were noted as the primary livestock predators. Traditional crop and livestock protection methods used in the study area included guarding, shouting, the use of dogs, scarecrows, smoking, and clearing surrounding natural vegetation. Education level 𝛽 = 0.194, p < 0.001) was a strong predictor of local attitudes toward wildlife conservation, implying that higher levels of formal education encourage greater support for conservation. Conversely, the distance between farmland and the protected forest (𝛽 = -0.081, p = 0.014) significantly affected local residents' emotions toward wildlife. To mitigate human-wildlife conflict, this study recommends implementing species-specific deterrent strategies, alongside clearly demarcating protected area boundaries, reforesting habitat and establishing wildlife corridors. Furthermore, local agricultural extension services should provide targeted visual training to farmers, while development initiatives should facilitate alternative, wildlife-deterrent livelihoods.
Source: Research Square
Institutions: Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Injibara University
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204198564