Human population growth increases the demand for natural resources in many parts of the world. This has led to degradation and fragmentation of wildlife habitats, with humans and livestock encroaching on natural habitats. Wildlife is increasingly competing with humans for limited natural resources resulting in an increase in human and wildlife conflicts (HWCs). These conflicts also contribute to the increased risk for emerging infectious disease transmission. As with many other types of HWCs, disease emergence often involves dynamic interactions among populations of wildlife, livestock and people within environments that rapidly change due to human activities.

HWC is a serious global threat to sustainable development, food security, conservation, and health – a concern that is negatively affecting both people and wildlife, and hindering achievement of many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

FAO’s work on HWC is an integral part of the Wildlife and Protected Areas Management Programme, and it aims at contributing to the achievement of the SDG2 on Zero hunger and SDG15 on Life on land. FAO has been actively supporting the efforts of Member Countries to better manage HWCs by providing technical assistance in the development of national policies and legal frameworks, generating guidance on good practices and tools, and in the implementation of field activities.