Human Wildlife Coexistence Roundtable

 In many parts of the world, the line between human life and wildlife is increasingly blurred. Fields overlap with migration routes, villages sit at the edges of protected areas, and livelihoods intersect directly with conservation. What was once seen as a distant environmental concern is now a daily reality for communities – and an urgent political question for lawmakers.

This perspective framed the International Parliamentary Roundtable on Human–Wildlife Coexistence, which was hosted by the National Assembly of Botswana in partnership with International IDEA, through its Inter Pares – Parliaments in Partnership and Climate Change and Democracy programmes, in Gaborone from 19 to 21 January 2026, with support from the European Union.

The roundtable brought together parliamentarians and practitioners from Botswana, nine other countries across Africa, Europe, and Asia – including Finland, Germany, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Romania, Sri Lanka, Sweden, and Zambia – alongside government officials, civil society representatives, local community members, and conservation experts. Across regions, participants agreed that human-wildlife coexistence is a global, cross-sectoral challenge that calls for collective parliamentary action, underpinned by peer learning and dialogue. 

“Coexistence is not an abstract ideal but a policy choice that requires balance, courage, and foresight….  Our laws and decisions must secure both human livelihoods and the long-term survival of wildlife for generations to come,” said Hon. Dithapelo L. Keorapetse, Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana in his closing remarks at the roundtable. 

Human-wildlife coexistence is an escalating global challenge. In Africa, pressures from habitat loss, climate change, land use, and tourism intensify interactions between people and wildlife. In Europe, similar challenges are emerging through rewilding programmes and ecosystem restoration efforts. Parliamentarians are uniquely positioned to balance community concerns with national development priorities and international biodiversity commitments.

The three-day roundtable focused on strengthening parliamentary leadership, highlighting the role of parliaments in policy development, oversight, and budgetary decision-making, and fostering consultative, inclusive approaches. Participants exchanged knowledge, shared practical solutions, and built networks across regions to address wildlife conservation, climate change, and land-use challenges.

“The European Union strongly supports biodiversity and sustainable conservation, working with local communities and African parliaments. I value the National Assembly of Botswana’s leadership and its committees’ role in addressing human-wildlife coexistence, showcasing Botswana’s successes in community-based natural resource management and legislation. The EU will continue promoting cooperation on HWC through funding, policy guidance, and international partnership.” – said Petra Pereyra, Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana and Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Discussions explored drivers of conflict, such as land use and habitat loss, and practical solutions including community-based natural resource management, compensation and insurance mechanisms, early warning systems, climate-smart agriculture, and deterrent technologies. Parliamentarians also heard directly from local communities about their challenges and lived experiences, reinforcing the importance of evidence-based, participatory policymaking.

The roundtable strengthened participants’ capacity to develop policies that support human-wildlife coexistence and improve their ability to respond through legislation, oversight, and community engagement.

“Communities – whether in rural Botswana, Romania or Sri Lanka – confront similar concerns. This roundtable showed how valuable it is to learn from one another when navigating these shared dilemmas,” said Jonathan Murphy, Head of Programme, Inter Pares, International IDEA. 

This gathering marked a significant step toward reinforcing parliamentary leadership and advancing peaceful, sustainable coexistence between people and wildlife. Looking ahead, a practical toolkit for parliamentarians on human-wildlife coexistence is due to be released later in 2026, providing guidance, best practices, and legislative approaches drawn from experiences across Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Read more here. Also, watch video reflections from roundtable participants. 

Additional Resources:

• Biographies: Speakers and Moderators
• Briefing Paper: Human Wildlife Coexistence in Botswana and Beyond
• List of Participants
• Final Programme