Module 4: Legal and Institutional Framework

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the legal and institutional framework that is relevant for the reconciliation of human-wildlife conflicts. The identification of the framework is important, because laws, regulations and norms may impose severe restrictions for reconciliation policies, but also because they open avenues of action. The legal and institutional framework involves governmental levels from local to international as well as different policy sectors from nature conservation and hunting to trade and competition. Relevant governmental levels and policy sectors vary greatly, depending on the conflict and national politico-administrative traditions. Presentation of the framework is organized by using three categories of possible policy instrument types that progress from stringent to least binding measures: “nature conservation regulation”, “economic instruments” and “information and training”.