This paper explores the role of indigenous knowledge in managing human-wildlife conflict, focusing on land's significance. Drawing on Igbo traditions and personal experience, it shows how African folk narratives can guide more harmonious human-nature relationships.
Paper long abstract
This paper highlights the importance of indigenous knowledge in human-wildlife conflict management contexts. Land is recognized in this paper as the space where human-wildlife conflicts occur, so its relevance to indigenous groups will be studied. The study will briefly discuss the relationship between the Igbo and their land, drawing examples from the author’s personal experience. The study will therefore illustrate how indigenous groups from various African communities use their knowledge and folk narratives to manage conflicts arising from human-wildlife contact. Folk narrative traditions such as these may offer pathways as we try to develop benevolent stewardship of nature.