Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa

Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa is a research and conservation organization based at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa. Founded in 2015, it focuses on the nexus between ecological science and human livelihoods, particularly in southern African landscapes. The institute conducts applied research to develop practical solutions for coexistence between people and wildlife.

Overview

The institute is embedded within the Department of Zoology at Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth. Its establishment was driven by the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the complex challenges facing conservation in Africa, where protected areas like Kruger National Park and Addo Elephant National Park border dense human settlements. Core funding and partnerships have been secured with entities like the National Research Foundation and the South African National Parks. The organizational structure integrates senior scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and postgraduate students from various disciplines to address issues from population ecology to environmental policy.

Mission and Objectives

The primary mission is to advance conservation science that directly benefits both biodiversity and local communities. Key objectives include mitigating human-wildlife conflict involving species such as the African elephant and African lion, promoting sustainable natural resource use, and strengthening governance in communal conservancies. The institute aims to translate research into actionable management plans for stakeholders ranging from CapeNature to communal farmers in the Eastern Cape. A fundamental principle is that durable conservation outcomes are contingent upon equitable socio-economic benefits for adjacent human populations.

Conservation Efforts

Field programs are concentrated in biodiverse regions experiencing high interface pressures, such as the Greater Addo region and the Garden Route. A major initiative involves developing and testing cost-effective deterrents to reduce livestock predation by leopards and caracal. Another significant project, in collaboration with SANParks, focuses on understanding elephant movement patterns to preempt crop-raiding incidents near Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The institute also works with organizations like the Endangered Wildlife Trust to implement community-based monitoring of species such as the Cape vulture and black rhinoceros in partnership with local traditional councils.

Research and Education

The research portfolio spans spatial ecology, animal behaviour, and social science methodologies. Scientists utilize technologies including GPS tracking and camera trapping to study species ranging from brown hyaena to blue duiker. This work is frequently published in journals like Biological Conservation and African Journal of Ecology. Educationally, the institute trains a new generation of African conservationists through MSc and PhD programs, often involving students from across the Southern African Development Community. It regularly hosts international workshops and has facilitated student exchanges with institutions like the University of Florida and the University of Oxford.

Impact and Achievements

Notable achievements include the development of a conflict mitigation toolkit adopted by several provincial conservation authorities in South Africa. Research on the ecological role of mesopredators has informed provincial policy on predator management. The institute's community engagement model in the Baviaanskloof area was recognized with an award from the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa. Its scientists, such as Dr. Graham Kerley, contribute to international assessments like the IUCN Species Survival Commission, and its work is often cited in management plans for transfrontier conservation areas.

Category:Conservation organizations Category:Research institutes in South Africa Category:Organizations established in 2015