Conducting cheetah research in a real-world laboratory
For as long as the Cheetah Research Project exists, we measure the success of our research not only by scientific results disseminated among peers but also by the impact these results make in the “real world”. We therefore do not see the scientific world and the real-world as separate but instead strive to integrate them to create synergies wherever and whenever we can. This enables research insights to become solutions to real-world problems and real-world challenges to be translated directly into research questions – and the dividing line between research for conservation and evidence-based conservation dissolves.
Since the beginning, the conservation success of our project is firmly grounded on a strong collaboration with the farmers who occasionally lose livestock to cheetahs and thus are in conflict with these predators. To maintain our trustful and long-lasting relationship with the farmers, we involve them in all relevant research questions and processes from the very beginning. We develop the research questions and goals of the projects together and share knowledge with each other. This provides a common understanding of the research topic and the way forward. Once we achieved science-based findings together, we communicate and discuss them with the farmers. This leads to the joint development of conflict solutions, which are implemented in a coordinated process accompanied scientifically by us. Successful implementations have the potential to lead to changes in perception and behaviour of the farmers towards to conflict species. Continuous discussions lead to new research questions relevant to both parties and a new round of a collaborative project can start.
A circular approach such as this has recently been described as “real-world laboratory” in socio-scientific fields. We believe that the concept of real-world laboratories can lead the way to “best practice” conservation science. It enables all of us to better understand the importance of different steps in communication and of collaboration between scientists and various stakeholders for pressing real-world problems.
Conceptual framework of a “real-world laboratory” in conservation science, i.e. working towards a co-existence of farmers and cheetahs in central Namibia. Orange arrows indicate the typical workflow within the real-world laboratory. Grey arrows indicate potential feedback loops when several iterations are necessary or helpful as well as a new circle that might begin after a successful solution for the previous problem was developed.
Conceptual meaning of the steps in the context of the CRP
Real-world problem
Starting point for a real-world laboratory is an existing problem in the real world. In our case this is the farmer-cheetah conflict in central Namibia. The science-based solution to this problem (see here) is the cornerstone of the real-world laboratory and defines the vision of the process.
Research
Scientists use state-of-the-art research and technology to find evidence-based solutions. Such applied conservation science defines the mission of the real-world laboratory and is entirely focused on achieving a defined vision. In our case, we dedicated our research to understand the farmer-cheetah conflict and to solve it.
Co-Designing the Research
In order to fully understand the real-world problem and to ensure that the research targets the relevant matters, scientists and stakeholders meet early in the process to co-design the research approach. During this process, both parties contribute their expertise and knowledge to the discussion. In our case, we engaged at the grass-root level and partnered with individual farmers and farmer associations within the study area.
Applied Research
The scientists conduct the applied research by collecting and analysing data that addresses the real-world problem. They play a key role in the study design and data collection, and guide all relevant aspects and perspectives of this problem. In our case, we used classical and high-tech methods with a study design targeting the movement ecology of the cheetahs and the cause of the conflict.
Co-creation of knowledge
The stakeholders are a vital part of the research by collecting own data and/or supporting data collection by other means (similar to the concept of citizen science). Researchers and stakeholders co-create knowledge to be used as a solid basis for developing solutions for the problem and achieving the vision. In our case, farmers collected data on their livestock losses and/or supported the trapping of cheetahs to be collared.
Co-Creation of Solutions
The scientific results are reviewed by scientists and stakeholders together to co-create solutions for the real-world problem. During this process and through regular meetings, scientists and stakeholders established a trustful relationship and bridged potential communication gaps. In our case, we developed field experiments during several meetings to test the potential conflict solution. We adapted the livestock herd management to reduce the contact of livestock with cheetah hotspots. These field experiments were conducted together with a core group of farmers and the expected reduction in livestock losses could be proven.
Co-Communication of Solution
The successful and proven solutions are communicated with the stakeholders of the real-world laboratory to encourage others to apply the solution. In a next step, the successful solution is spread to a larger audience. This can be done during meetings with famer organizations and other relevant stakeholder groups such as NGOs and governmental institutions. During these meetings, scientists and farmers present the successful experiments and their experiences together. In our case, we presented the successful adaptation of livestock herd management which substantially reduced losses by cheetah predation.
Solution within the real-world lab
The intensive exchange and communication of the solution across different groups of the society initiates a slow change of perception towards the problem in question. This ideally promotes a change in perception and behaviour of the society on a wider scale. In our case, this transformation is currently happening across the farmlands of central Namibia with the result of a strong reduction of lethal cheetah control.
Upscaling the Solution
Beyond the local level, the real-world laboratory should have model character and a successful solution should be transferred to a larger scale. In our case, we plan to implement the process of the real-world laboratory across the entire range of the cheetah to explore the validity beyond our study area in Namibia.
With the development of a successful solution of the initial problem, a new circle of a real-world laboratory can begin. Based on the mutual trust and existing working relation, the real-world laboratory can be an incubator to identify new needs for changes and develop adequate solutions. For example, in our case farmers approached us with the idea to start a project on developing solutions for their conflicts with leopards and to develop a management program for a sustainable, consumptive utilization of kudus.
Illustrations by Stefanie Gendera/greeneducation4all.com