Insights from diplomacy for the prevention and resolution of conservation conflicts

Conflicts between people over conservation are increasing and are likely to become more acute with global change and increased competition for resources. In this article, we add to the toolbox of conservation practitioners trying to prevent and resolve conflicts, often in a local or regional context, with insights and knowledge from the techniques that diplomats employ. These techniques include conflict prevention such as early-warning systems and knowledge gathering for in-depth understanding of conflicts. Conflict resolution is managed through quiet or preventive diplomacy, such as mediation, shuttle diplomacy and arbitration, or the application of external pressures including through media campaigns, legislation and sanctions. We argue that while conservation may in some cases already use these techniques, their application could be more widespread, and conservationists could make greater use of the wealth of resources available to guide the use of those techniques. We conclude with a need for more systematic dissemination and use of these techniques, as well as sharing of experiences of conflict prevention and resolution in conservation to build greater capacity and reduce the negative impacts of conflicts on conservation outcomes and human well-being.