# Applying the open-LUCIS framework to identify and characterize human–wildlife conflicts: A case study in Botswana

## TL;DR

This paper shows how the open-LUCIS tool helps identify land-use conflicts between humans and wildlife in Botswana, offering a cost-effective solution for sustainable development.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the practical application of the open-source Open-LUCIS framework for analyzing human–wildlife conflicts in a real-world setting.

## Key findings

- High-conflict zones were found where commercial farms overlap with wildlife corridors.
- Land use, road accessibility, and development constraints strongly influence conflict dynamics.
- Open-LUCIS provides a cost-effective and accessible alternative to proprietary tools for HWC analysis.

## Abstract

Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC) is an increasing challenge in rapidly changing landscapes, where agricultural expansion, settlement growth, and infrastructure development intersect with critical wildlife corridors. Addressing these conflicts requires spatially explicit methods that can evaluate trade-offs among competing land uses. This study demonstrates the application of the open-source Land Use Conflict Identification Strategy (Open-LUCIS), a suitability-based framework that integrates open geospatial data, domain knowledge, and goal-driven land-use modeling. Using Pandamatenga in Botswana’s Chobe District as a case study, we identified areas of potential conflict among agriculture, human settlement, and wildlife conservation. High-conflict zones were concentrated where commercial farms overlap with transboundary wildlife corridors, highlighting the tension between agricultural development and conservation. A sensitivity analysis indicated that existing land use, road accessibility, and development constraints strongly influence conflict dynamics. The application demonstrates a clear pathway for using open-source tools to support HWC studies. By relying on open data and reproducible methods, Open-LUCIS offers a cost-effective and accessible alternative to proprietary software, with direct implications for advancing sustainable land development in regions with limited resources. Given that the dynamics observed in Chobe reflect pressures common across many parts of Africa and beyond, the framework is broadly applicable as a transferable approach for managing land-use conflicts in many rapidly developing, ecologically sensitive frontiers worldwide.