The vast southern Africa landscape consists of a complex mosaic of forest reserves, national parks, agricultural fields, grazing lands, and human settlements interspersed with diverse natural communities. In Botswana, the allocation of farming lands adjacent to forest reserves has led to increased human elephant conflict, so there is a critical need to determine the best possible solutions for reducing conflicts between people and wildlife. In collaboration with San Diego Zoo Global, Elephants Without Borders has established a conservation farming project in the Chobe Enclave in Botswana. This project is developing experimental plots with various crop deterrence methods, including farming of specific chili species that are thought to be unpalatable to elephants and may deter them from invading crop areas. In conjunction with aerial survey wildlife counts and satellite-collared elephant data, these projects are essential for developing community-based conservation programs to mitigate human-elephant conflict and make better informed conservation decisions.
