Biodiversity loss and increasing human-wildlife interactions are among the most pressing challenges in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. In regions where protected areas border agricultural and pastoral communities, conservation success depends not only on ecological knowledge, but also on how decisions are made, who is involved, and whether policies are perceived as fair and legitimate. Top-down conservation approaches often fail to address local realities, leading to conflicts, low compliance, and limited long-term impact. PEACE addresses these challenges in the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area by developing and testing participatory, data-informed governance approaches that connect biodiversity protection with local livelihoods and adaptation needs.
