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