About The Speaker: Eric LeFlore's research interests broadly center around the conservation of threatened and endangered species and bridging the gaps between the needs of people and wildlife. At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, he worked with Drs. Todd Fuller and Andrew Stein and developed a community-based lion conservation program in the Okavango Delta of northern Botswana called "Pride in Our Prides." This human-lion conflict and coexistence program was designed to help protect a declining lion population while also helping local farmers protect their livestock. The multipronged program investigated livestock losses to large carnivores, explored local villager’s attitudes towards large carnivores, monitored the local lion population, and tested novel conflict mitigation strategies.

LeFlore is continuing this work and remains focused on developing win-win solutions that benefit both people and wildlife. He is also exploring the connections between colonial and neocolonial forces and current wildlife conservation efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.

Brunch will be served during this program, which is sponsored by the Martin Institute for Law & Society