Negative impacts of wildlife law enforcement on tribal communities

Tribal peoples are more at risk Often depend on hunting for subsistence Easy target Live in remote areas Law itself is deficient

Laws are deficient Fail to distinguish “wildlife crime” from subsistence hunting. Leave too much power in the hands of Executive No mechanism to call wildlife scouts or ecoguards to account

Case study: Botswana’s Bushmen All hunting banned since 2014 (except in private game ranches) No alternative food source Paramilitary police deployed to enforce the ban No consultation

Impacts Risk of starvation Some forced to abandon way of life State of fear No co-operation with authorities Expensive but ineffective

Case study: Baka in Cameroon Forbidden to hunt in or enter “protected” land Exploited by powerful elites Victims of “Punch Operations” Expensive but ineffective

Way forward? Kasane Declaration should acknowledge  The right of tribal communities to hunt for subsistence  The need for effective grievance mechanisms  ILO 169 UNDRIP UNGP