Game fencing as a human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategy and its implications for conservation

Abstract

Worldwide, fencing is increasingly being used as a conservation tool to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. However, knowledge of its effectiveness and its impacts on different trophic levels is still very limited. For this dissertation, the effectiveness of two human-wildlife conflict mitigation game fences in Botswana, their impact on predator avoidance behaviour of herbivores and their impact on grass biomass and its key chemical characteristics in formerly overgrazed areas were studied. The decision whether or not to use fencing as a conservation tool is dependent on many different factors and has to be decided on a case-by-case basis. This dissertation highlights the need to consider whole ecosystems when fencing is deemed the right choice. Appropriate design, alignment and maintenance are the key factors, which will determine whether fencing will be a success or disaster for conservation.