Conflict transformation — in the conservation of Snow Leopards.
Snow leopards are an endangered species with a recorded population of between 4,080–6,590 as of 2021,(WWF, 2021). They are primarily located within high altitude regions such as Afghanistan, Nepal, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Russia, (Jackson et al, 2010). Threats have been linked to poaching, illegal trade of fur and bones, human-wildlife conflicts due to livestock and habitat depredation; poor local and national awareness; as well as war and trans-border political issues within the habitat region. Conflict transformation can be applied to resolving conflicts in relation to the conservation of animal species. This can be achieved by encouraging justice, equality, biodiversity, social and political agreement, as well as overcoming the scarcity of natural resources as a means for sustainable development. Conflict transformation is the process of resolving conflicts by addressing their root causes. Such conflicts related to the conservation of species often have root causes related to inequality or a form of social, cultural, economic, or political injustice. Conflict transformation allows for the mediation of nonviolence, peace, and justice, to bring about long-term structural, relational, and cultural changes, (Sheehan, 2014). This essay describes how conflict transformation could be used to overcome conflict in the conservation of snow leopard species by addressing these factors.
One of the specific conflicts in relation to snow leopard conservation is with regards to the degradation of livestock population. This conflict is the result of preying by snow leopards; the most notable prey includes the blue sheep and ibex. Although most of the snow leopard habitat regions do not coincide with human residential areas, the land uses for livestock herding as well agro-pastoralism is significant and dependent upon impoverished locals for economic support, (Jackson et al, 2010). This overall creates an uneasy coexistence, forming a human-wildlife conflict bringing about concerns of inequality of the rights, values, and justice between species. Achieving justice and fairness is critical towards efficient environmental management and in overcoming conflicts of co-existence. Jameson et al, (2014), discuss that conflict transformation is the outcome of mediation, effective communication, and negotiation by improving the understanding of issues and relationships between parties of the conflict. It focuses on working towards a resolution with an eco-centric perspective and ecosystem services approach. This approach appreciates that humans are integral to the environment and that justice, values, and basic rights are to be equal among all living beings. It further enables the consultation of all stakeholders, communities, and parties of the conflict to understand the roots of conflict to allow for mediation and to meet an unbiased consensus.
Conflict transformation further allows for mediation of conflicts by appreciating that nature is dynamic. We live in a world which demands the efficiency of ecosystem services, the economy as well as social and political efficiency; however, these factors are prone to change over time with respect to one another. This is evident within habitat regions of snow leopard species, whereby human population growth is putting a strain on the management of ecosystem services and the land usage for livestock. This has resulted in concerns of overgrazing land and soil erosion, leading to inefficient agriculture for feeding livestock as well as a scarcity of land and resources, (Snow leopard network, 2014). Furthermore, the demise of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s led to shifts in the migration of human populations as a result of unemployment, leading to the growth of rangeland areas and bringing a rise to the poaching of livestock in Central Asia (Squires, 2012). This hence has impacted snow leopards populations due to reduced numbers of prey. It is possible to relate this situation with regards to Neo-Malthusian theories which depict that population growth leads to overcapacity of land usage and reduces the stimulation of food production. However, Boserup, 2003, argues that population growth is dynamic and that transformation can enable greater cultivation of land with increasing knowledge of technology, usage of fertilizers, and agricultural techniques. In such cases, conflict transformation can be actively conducted in this manner by investigating and employing methods of grazing management with consultations from the local communities, stakeholders, and government. Introducing such management schemes allows for the maintenance of ecosystems, biodiversity, and snow leopard habitats through improving prey populations; whilst also considering the dynamics of population growth and the needs of a growing economy.
The way we perceive nature is highly dependent upon different cultural, social, political, and economic influences which ultimately affect the social status and the hierarchies of property rights within society. These factors challenge those who have the upper hand or power to govern land, ecosystems, and natural resources management. This is reflected in common oppositions between the views of hunter-gathers and agriculturalists. Such conflicts are also noticeable in Mongolia’s southern desert-steppes and habitats of snow leopard species, due to failing management interventions of land resources and the introduction of free-market economies, (Bedunah and Schmidt 2004). Without clear property rights or governmental policies, it leads to open-access exploitation of natural resources leading to an effect of the ‘tragedy of the commons. Developing countries often have difficulties in achieving free-market economies due to corruption and illegal trade, (Leonard, 2006). This results in social, economic, and political injustice and impacts the conservation of snow leopard species by encouraging the illegal trade of fur and bone across borders. There is a need to overcome conflicts by means of reciprocity, to share resources where it required most in order to meet the overall social and economic benefits to all through a utilitarian approach. Conflict transformation can allow for the investigation of economic and social drivers of poaching, in order to mediate greater enforcements against actions of illegal trade. This can further allow to “address wider issues of governance and make better use of non-regulatory approaches e.g. market-based interventions and support for improvements in resource management; target the specific audience for awareness and evaluating its impact and increase policy action and attention to address the illegal trade on priority” (Snow leopard network, 2014).
Overall conservation is greatly needed to address the population decline of snow leopards by encouraging support within local communities through education and awareness; restoring prey populations and biodiversity; developing economic incentives for local communities; and designing appropriate policies for support. Conflict transformation promotes the mediation transformation of conflicts by analysing the root causes in order to deliver an unbiased consensus of all parties concerned, bringing about justice and fairness to the values held by all. When conflicts arise, conflict transformation aims of achieving equality, peace whilst also encouraging biodiversity and sustainable development. It is evident in the case of snow leopard conservation that conflict transformation has been effective towards targeting the root cause of conflicts in order to better understand the methods of mediation and processes of change to alleviate such concerns.
References
1. Boserup, Ester (2003). The Conditions of Agricultural Growth: The Economics of Agrarian Change Under Population Pressure. Psychology Press, Great Britain.
2. Bedunah, D.J. and Schmidt.S.M (2004). Pastoralism and protected area management in Mongolia’s Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. Development and Change, (1) 35, p167–191.
3. Ivan Sascha Sheehan (2014) Conflict Transformation as Counterinsurgency, Peace Review, (1) 26, p.121–128
4. Jameson, J. K., Sohan, D. and Hodge, J. (2014). Turning Points and Conflict Transformation in Mediation. Negotiation Journal, 30 (1), p.209–229
5. Jackson, R.M., C. Mishra, T.M. McCarthy and S.B. Ale. (2010). Snow leopards: conflict and conservation. The Biology and Conservation of Wild Felids. p.417‐430
6. Leonard, Thomas M. (2006). Encyclopedia of the Developing World, Volume 2. Taylor and Francis, New York
7. Snow Leopard Network (2014). Snow Leopard Survival Strategy. Revised 2014 Version Snow Leopard Network, Seattle, Washington, USA.
8. Squires, Victor R (2012). Rangeland Stewardship in Central Asia: Balancing Improved Livelihoods, Biodiversity Conservation and Land Protection, Springer Science & Business Media, New York
9. WWF. WHERE DO SNOW LEOPARDS LIVE? AND NINE OTHER SNOW LEOPARD FACTS. https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/where-do-snow-leopards-live-and-nine-other-snow-leopard-facts
