Grounded in human well-being: Towards fostering system resilience in human-wildlife coexistence

Global conservation efforts are often constrained by limited understanding of the social processes that shape human-wildlife interactions and broader social-ecological systems. We examined local conceptions of human well-being in conservation strategies across eight villages in Cameroon and Kenya, with a focus on how well-being priorities influence capacities for human-wildlife coexistence. Using a grounded qualitative approach, we employed a holistic, locally grounded, and equity-conscious well-being framework that centers diverse local voices and examines how nature contributes to multiple dimensions of living well. Our findings reveal that vulnerable groups, including women and younger men, perceive inequities in access to resources and participation in community decision-making, shaping their well-being priorities and influencing their perceptions toward coexistence with wildlife. The results highlight the importance of strengthening internal social cohesion and integrating equity considerations into conservation program design to support both human-wildlife coexistence and social-ecological resilience.