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Human-wildlife conflict is a serious and growing concern for biodiversity conservation worldwide. Negative encounters between people and wildlife may trigger these situations, but the deeper challenge often lies in disagreements among stakeholders over wildlife, its management, and the consequences of living alongside it. The nature and intensity of these disputes vary greatly. Some can be addressed largely through practical measures that reduce damage or risk, while others are shaped by histories of tension, perceptions of injustice, mistrust, clashing values and deeply polarised relationships. Recognising these differences is essential for determining what kinds of responses are likely to be effective. Drawing on international experience across species and regions, this presentation considers wider lessons for human-bear coexistence. It examines the need to look beyond negative encounters themselves to the social, cultural and political contexts in which they occur, and to combine practical mitigation with dialogue, engagement and collaborative decision-making. It also considers the growing place of human-wildlife conflict and coexistence in international biodiversity policy, and the implications for conservation practice.