Hunger and poverty combined with corruption, loss of cattle and crops and an international demand for exotic products drive many small-scale farmers around the world to illegal hunting or fishing, an activity known as poaching. In these situations law enforcement alone tends to be far too expensive and logistically difficult for governments to keep poachers in control. That there is no easy solution to this worldwide problem is clear. To meet this challenge a growing number of conservation projects are attempting a new approach: helping people to sustainable livelihoods in order to save wildlife.

One such project from Zambia is neatly depicted in a recent article in the Solutions journal. Here results have shown that farmer behaviors have changed dramatically with the help of a network of local staff and lead farmers, who provide year-round training and support. Tens of thousands of small-scale farmers have significantly improved their yields by "adopting such new skills as making compost fertilizer, using a near-zero tillage method that reduces drought risk, growing new food crop varieties, and applying cover crops and agroforestry species to increase soil nutrients".

The article in Solutions focuses in particular on Stanwell Chirwa, a 42 years old with a history of poaching wild animals in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia. He has since he handed over all his guns earned a good living by selling soybeans, peanuts, and honey from more than 15 beehives. "Today he makes far more money than he did as a poacher", writes Dale Lewis, author of the article in Solutions.

Read the article "Getting Poachers to Give Up Their Guns in Zambia" here>>