Human-Wildlife Conflict

SMART has been developed by a consortium that includes WCS, WWF, ZSL, Frankfurt Zoological Society, North Carolina Zoo, and Panthera. It is a widely adopted suite of software and analysis tools designed to help conservationists manage and protect wildlife and wild places. While broadly used for anti-poaching and patrol monitoring, its capabilities are highly relevant for HWC. It allows for the collection, storage, analysis, and reporting of data on patrols, wildlife sightings, and conflict incidents, enabling adaptive management and improved law enforcement. It supports desktop and mobile data collection (SMART Mobile) and cloud-based data management (SMART Connect).

Originally developed by Vulcan Inc., now part of the Allen Institute for AI (AI2) and supported by a global community, EarthRanger is a real-time data visualization and analysis software used by protected area managers, ecologists, and wildlife biologists to protect wildlife and habitats. It integrates data from various sources including GPS collars on animals, ranger patrols, remote sensors, and aircraft. This consolidated view helps in monitoring animal movements (crucial for HWC prediction), detecting potential threats, and coordinating response efforts for HWC incidents.

Developed by World Resources Institute (WRI) with numerous partners, GFW is an online platform providing data and tools for monitoring forests. While its primary focus is deforestation, its near real-time alerts on forest change, fire alerts, and land cover data are invaluable for understanding habitat loss and fragmentation – key drivers of HWC. This information can help predict areas where HWC is likely to increase. It also has associated mobile apps like Forest Watcher for field use.

Developed by Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and supported by numerous research institutions, Movebank is a free, online platform that helps researchers manage, share, analyze, and archive animal movement data (from GPS tags, Argos PTTs, etc.). Understanding animal movement ecology is fundamental to predicting and mitigating HWC. While primarily a research tool, the data and analyses can inform HWC management strategies.

Developed by Save the Elephants (STE), Kenya, the EWS utilizes GPS collars on elephants. When collared elephants approach virtual "geofences" around farms/villages, an SMS alert is automatically sent to community members, rangers, and STE staff, allowing for proactive conflict mitigation.

The Early Warning System developed by Lion Guardians organization and local communities integrates GPS tracking of lions with community-based monitoring. Guardians use mobile phones to report lion movements and conflict incidents. Information from collared lions is relayed to herders, and some projects pilot LoRaWAN-based EWS for direct community alerts.

The tool developed by RESOLVE, with partners like Intel and National Geographic, initially focused on anti-poaching, uses AI-powered cameras hidden in forests to detect humans and specific animals. Alerts, including images, are sent in near real-time to rangers' mobile devices or a central command. This technology is adaptable for monitoring conflict-prone species and triggering EWS for HWC.

(i) iNaturalist serves as a vital platform for collecting and mapping biodiversity observations, especially of conflict-prone species. It allows users to document wildlife sightings and their interactions with human areas, helping identify conflict hotspots and understand wildlife distribution and behavior, which are crucial for early warning and preventative measures. This citizen science data empowers local communities to engage in monitoring efforts, fostering greater understanding and coexistence, while also providing valuable information for researchers and policymakers to develop effective HWC mitigation strategies and inform land-use planning.

(ii) CyberTracker is an essential field data capture tool in Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) scenarios, particularly in remote regions or for diverse user groups, including those with literacy challenges. It enables immediate, accurate recording of HWC incidents, such as crop damage, livestock depredation, or wildlife sightings; using customizable, icon-based forms, often with GPS and photo capabilities. This standardized and real-time data collection is critical for assessing the effectiveness of mitigation measures, supporting compensation claims, and informing adaptive management strategies to respond effectively to evolving conflict patterns on the ground.

Developed by Aaranyak (NGO), the HaatiApp mobile app is specifically designed to mitigate human-elephant conflict in Assam. The HaatiApp provides real-time information and alerts to villagers about elephant presence and movements. It also allows users to report damages, aiming to help communities take proactive measures.

Developed by Chhattisgarh Forest Department, the system combines AI with field data collection via an ODK (Open Data Kit) mobile app used by forest officers. Data on elephant movements and signs is processed using GIS (like QGIS), and AI automatically sends alerts (SMS, calls, WhatsApp) to villagers and officials, reducing direct app dependence for end-users receiving alerts.

Epicollect5: (Website: https://five.epicollect.net) - A mobile & web application for creating forms and collecting field data, highly customizable for HWC surveys.

Survey123 for ArcGIS: (Website: https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-survey123/overview) - A web and app-based solution for creating and deploying field surveys, widely used in conservation.