There are three reasons why this workshop was the most exciting one CCB was involved with in 2019. Firstly, because the topic was social science – something that few conservationists are trained in and yet it makes up most of the work we do. When people follow their passion for wildlife into conservation they usually come off the back of zoology or biology degrees, which makes then experts in wildlife. Ironically, when they then progress into the world of conservation, most threats to wildlife are human-induced, and as such, conservationists usually end up focusing their efforts on people and working with them to promote human-wildlife coexistence and to minimise conflict. But few conservationists know even the basics of anthropology or social science. This obvious knowledge gap was something we were hoping to bridge with this week-long workshop at the start of November.
The second most exciting element of this workshop was that it was an amalgamation of professionals from all across Botswana ranging from local NGO staff, academics and government officials. Bringing together key staff that work in human-wildlife conflict for this training means that we can have significant impact in how conservation professionals are carrying out their important work in Botswana, increasing efficiency and improving the help we provide communities that are living with wildlife.
The third reason this workshop was so exciting was the fact that it was hosted by one of the most dynamic leaders in conservation – Dr James Danoff-Burg, Director of Conservation Research at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in the United States. This workshop was only possible thanks to sponsorship from The Living Desert, and the participants were infected with Dr Danoff-Burg’s passion for conservation and inspired with his thorough deep-dive into the world of social science. Each of the 43 attendees will long remember this workshop as they take all the knowledge they gained and apply it to their respective work on the ground in Botswana.
A huge thank you goes out to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens for sponsoring this event and to the Botswana Government’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks for their assistance, including allowing us the use of the Botswana Wildlife Training Institute for the workshop.
The second most exciting element of this workshop was that it was an amalgamation of professionals from all across Botswana ranging from local NGO staff, academics and government officials. Bringing together key staff that work in human-wildlife conflict for this training means that we can have significant impact in how conservation professionals are carrying out their important work in Botswana, increasing efficiency and improving the help we provide communities that are living with wildlife.
The third reason this workshop was so exciting was the fact that it was hosted by one of the most dynamic leaders in conservation – Dr James Danoff-Burg, Director of Conservation Research at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in the United States. This workshop was only possible thanks to sponsorship from The Living Desert, and the participants were infected with Dr Danoff-Burg’s passion for conservation and inspired with his thorough deep-dive into the world of social science. Each of the 43 attendees will long remember this workshop as they take all the knowledge they gained and apply it to their respective work on the ground in Botswana.
A huge thank you goes out to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens for sponsoring this event and to the Botswana Government’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks for their assistance, including allowing us the use of the Botswana Wildlife Training Institute for the workshop.
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