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Kansky R, Maassarani T, Fischer J. Participatory co-learning for human-wildlife coexistence: Reflections on a novel program applying systems thinking, nonviolent communication, and learning-based approaches. AMBIO 2024; 53:1479-1491. [PMID: 38755428 PMCID: PMC11383895 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-024-02032-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
As wildlife habitats become increasingly fragmented, sharing landscapes with wildlife is becoming difficult and complex. Because stakeholders with diverging interests struggle to collaborate to manage human-wildlife interactions, new approaches are needed. Here we reflect on a novel participatory learning program we implemented with farmers in communal conservancies in the Zambezi region of Namibia. The 9 week program aimed to understand why human-wildlife conflict remained a challenge. We combined three theoretical framings in the program design-systems thinking, nonviolent communication, and learning based approaches. We summarize key outcomes of each session and reflect on the overall program. We found a synergistic effect of the three framings and concluded that our integrated program had been a useful collaborative learning tool to understand the human-wildlife governance system, identify interventions, empower communities, and build capacity for collaboration to improve human wellbeing and human-wildlife interactions. Drawing on our experience, we make suggestions for how the program could be adapted for similar or other environmental problems elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Kansky
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
| | - Tarek Maassarani
- Justice and Peace Studies, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Joern Fischer
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI), Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana Universitaet Lueneburg, Universitaetsallee 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany
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2
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Allen BL, Bobier C, Dawson S, Fleming PJS, Hampton J, Jachowski D, Kerley GIH, Linnell JDC, Marnewick K, Minnie L, Muthersbaugh M, O'Riain MJ, Parker D, Proulx G, Somers MJ, Titus K. Why humans kill animals and why we cannot avoid it. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:165283. [PMID: 37406694 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Killing animals has been a ubiquitous human behaviour throughout history, yet it is becoming increasingly controversial and criticised in some parts of contemporary human society. Here we review 10 primary reasons why humans kill animals, discuss the necessity (or not) of these forms of killing, and describe the global ecological context for human killing of animals. Humans historically and currently kill animals either directly or indirectly for the following reasons: (1) wild harvest or food acquisition, (2) human health and safety, (3) agriculture and aquaculture, (4) urbanisation and industrialisation, (5) invasive, overabundant or nuisance wildlife control, (6) threatened species conservation, (7) recreation, sport or entertainment, (8) mercy or compassion, (9) cultural and religious practice, and (10) research, education and testing. While the necessity of some forms of animal killing is debatable and further depends on individual values, we emphasise that several of these forms of animal killing are a necessary component of our inescapable involvement in a single, functioning, finite, global food web. We conclude that humans (and all other animals) cannot live in a way that does not require animal killing either directly or indirectly, but humans can modify some of these killing behaviours in ways that improve the welfare of animals while they are alive, or to reduce animal suffering whenever they must be killed. We encourage a constructive dialogue that (1) accepts and permits human participation in one enormous global food web dependent on animal killing and (2) focuses on animal welfare and environmental sustainability. Doing so will improve the lives of both wild and domestic animals to a greater extent than efforts to avoid, prohibit or vilify human animal-killing behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L Allen
- University of Southern Queensland, Institute for Life Sciences and the Environment, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia; Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6034, South Africa.
| | - Christopher Bobier
- Department of Theology and Philosophy, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Winona, MN, USA
| | - Stuart Dawson
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia; Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, South Perth, Western Australia 6151, Australia
| | - Peter J S Fleming
- University of Southern Queensland, Institute for Life Sciences and the Environment, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia; Ecosystem Management, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia; Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange Agricultural Institute, Orange, New South Wales 2800, Australia
| | - Jordan Hampton
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia; Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia
| | - David Jachowski
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Graham I H Kerley
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6034, South Africa
| | - John D C Linnell
- Norwegian Institute of Nature Research, Vormstuguveien 40, 2624 Lillehammer, Norway; Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Anne Evenstads vei 80, NO-2480 Koppang, Norway
| | - Kelly Marnewick
- Department of Nature Conservation, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Liaan Minnie
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6034, South Africa; School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela 1200, South Africa
| | - Mike Muthersbaugh
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - M Justin O'Riain
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Upper Campus, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa
| | - Dan Parker
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela 1200, South Africa
| | - Gilbert Proulx
- Alpha Wildlife Research & Management Ltd, Sherwood Park, Alberta T8H 1W3, Canada
| | - Michael J Somers
- Mammal Research Institute, Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Keifer Titus
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
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Arponen A, Salomaa A. Transformative potential of conservation actions. BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION 2023; 32:1-23. [PMID: 37359477 PMCID: PMC10105141 DOI: 10.1007/s10531-023-02600-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Transformative change can help achieve the 2050 vision of biodiversity, but concrete ways to achieve it are only being discovered. To contribute to the understanding of the practical options for concrete action to foster, accelerate and maintain the transformative change, we assessed the leverage potential of existing conservation actions using the Meadows' Leverage points framework. We took the actions from the Conservation Actions Classification by the Conservation Measures Partnership. The outcome is a scheme that evaluates at which leverage points, from simple parameters to paradigms, the different conservation actions have potential to make an impact, and thus impact systemic change. We found that all conservation actions have potential to leverage systemic transformative change, with varying coverage of the leverage points. All leverage points were addressed by several actions. The scheme could be used both as an interim tool for evaluating transformative potential in different broad datasets, but also help with planning of new conservation policies, interventions and projects. We hope our work could be a first step toward standardization and broader adoption of assessing leverage in conservation research and practice, achieving broader socio-ecological system leverage with conservation tools. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10531-023-02600-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anni Arponen
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Research Group Politics of Nature and the Environment (PONTE), Faculty of Management and Business, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Anna Salomaa
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Unit of Social Research, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland
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4
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Pop MI, Dyck MA, Chiriac S, Lajos B, Szabó S, Iojă CI, Popescu VD. Predictors of brown bear predation events on livestock in the Romanian Carpathians. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mihai I. Pop
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI) University of Bucharest Bucharest Romania
- Association for the Conservation of Biological Diversity (ACDB) Focșani Romania
| | - Marissa A. Dyck
- Department of Biological Sciences Ohio University Athens Ohio USA
| | | | - Berde Lajos
- Covasna Environmental Protection Agency Sf. Gheorghe Romania
| | - Szilárd Szabó
- Harghita Environmental Protection Agency Miercurea Ciuc Romania
| | - Cristian I. Iojă
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI) University of Bucharest Bucharest Romania
| | - Viorel D. Popescu
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI) University of Bucharest Bucharest Romania
- Department of Biological Sciences Ohio University Athens Ohio USA
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5
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Neagu AC, Manolache S, Rozylowicz L. The drums of war are beating louder: Media coverage of brown bears in Romania. NATURE CONSERVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.50.86019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The increasing demand for resources to meet the needs of our society has transformed the environment and increased the likelihood of human-wildlife interactions. Romania has the highest density of brown bears in Europe, with more than 7000 individuals populating the Carpathian Mountains and neighboring areas. The large brown bear population in Romania inhabits ever-increasing human-dominated landscapes, which frequently results in conflict with humans. The means and frequency by which the media communicates information to the readership influence the public perception of human-wildlife conflicts. This research is intended to contribute to the existing knowledge on human-brown bear coexistence in Romania by (1) exploring how the Romanian media depicts human-brown bear interactions in terms of the main themes discussed, framing of issues (emotions and key messages), and likely impacts on public perception; (2) analyzing the changes in reporting on human brown-bear interactions following the transition of the legal status of the brown bear from game to strictly protected species; and (3) investigating suggested policy and management solutions. The results indicate that news stories related to brown bears became common in Romanian mass media after 2016, when a provisional one-year ban on culling was instated, after which it increased abruptly in 2021, following the whistleblowing of an alleged trophy hunting event. The focus on human-bear interaction and hunting/poaching themes has not changed; however, the position of the media toward brown bears has become increasingly negative, even when presenting news stories covering human-bear interactions that incur no harm. To facilitate human-brown bear coexistence in Romania, scientists and practitioners should communicate with media representatives and provide a supplementary context for news stories. Evidence-informed news can help authorities better understand conflicts and create bottom-up pathways toward an optimistic future for brown bears and Romanian society.
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6
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Martin ME, Delheimer MS, Moriarty KM, Early DA, Hamm KA, Pauli JN, Mcdonald TL, Manley PN. Conservation of rare and cryptic species: Challenges of uncertainty and opportunities for progress. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marie E. Martin
- Oregon State University, Institute for Natural Resources Portland Oregon USA
| | - Matthew S. Delheimer
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station Placerville California USA
| | - Katie M. Moriarty
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. Corvallis Oregon USA
| | | | - Keith A. Hamm
- Green Diamond Resource Company Korbel California USA
| | - Jonathan N. Pauli
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin USA
| | | | - Patricia N. Manley
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station Placerville California USA
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7
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Papp CR, Scheele BC, Rákosy L, Hartel T. Transdisciplinary deficit in large carnivore conservation funding in Europe. NATURE CONSERVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.49.81469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Achieving coexistence between humans and large carnivores in human-shaped landscapes is a complex challenge. Addressing this challenge requires the revaluation of the approaches academia uses to foster carnivore conservation and human-large carnivore coexistence. In this forum paper, we provide a brief overview of the three archetypical approaches of knowledge generation for large carnivore conservation in human dominated landscapes (disciplinary, interdisciplinary and emerging transdisciplinary approaches) and highlight the need for more explicit consideration of transdisciplinarity in large carnivore conservation funding. We refer to transdisciplinary deficit (TDD) for those situations when the context allows the implementation of transdisciplinarity but research and practice remains disciplinary or interdisciplinary. We identify drivers of this TDD and provide a brief overview of current and past conservation funding programmes at the European level in terms of their capacity to promote transdisciplinary approaches for large carnivore conservation. We show that current funding programmes favour sectorial and disciplinary approaches, resulting in low transdisciplinary substance in large carnivore conservation projects. TDD can be overcome by transforming the character of public funding towards multi-stakeholder collaboration, designing and nurturing effective communities of practice, and reducing co-financing rates for large, integrated projects.
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8
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Cusack JJ, Nilsen EB, Israelsen MF, Andrén H, Grainger M, Linnell JDC, Odden J, Bunnefeld N. Quantifying the checks and balances of collaborative governance systems for adaptive carnivore management. J Appl Ecol 2022; 59:1038-1049. [PMID: 35910004 PMCID: PMC9306889 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recovering or threatened carnivore populations are often harvested to minimise their impact on human activities, such as livestock farming or game hunting. Increasingly, harvest quota decisions involve a set of scientific, administrative and political institutions operating at national and sub-national levels whose interactions and collective decision-making aim to increase the legitimacy of management and ensure population targets are met. In practice, however, assessments of how quota decisions change between these different actors and what consequences these changes have on population trends are rare.We combine a state-space population modelling approach with an analysis of quota decisions taken at both regional and national levels between 2007 and 2018 to build a set of decision-making models that together predict annual harvest quota values for Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Norway.We reveal a tendency for administrative decision-makers to compensate for consistent quota increases by political actors, particularly when the lynx population size estimate is above the regional target. Using population forecasts based on the ensemble of decision-making models, we show that such buffering of political biases ensures lynx population size remains close to regional and national targets in the long term.Our results go beyond the usual qualitative assessment of collaborative governance systems for carnivore management, revealing a system of checks and balances that, in the case of lynx in Norway, ensures both multi-stakeholder participation and sustainable harvest quotas. Nevertheless, we highlight important inter-regional differences in decision-making and population forecasts, the socio-ecological drivers of which need to be better understood to prevent future population declines. Synthesis and applications. Our work analyses the sequence of decisions leading to yearly quotas for lynx harvest in Norway, highlighting the collaborative and structural processes that together shape harvest sustainability. In doing so, we provide a predictive framework to evaluate participatory decision-making processes in wildlife management, paving the way for scientists and decision-makers to collaborate more widely in identifying where decision biases might lie and how institutional arrangements can be optimised to minimise them. We emphasise, however, that this is only possible if wildlife management decisions are documented and transparent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy J. Cusack
- Centro de Modelación y Monitoreo de EcosistemasUniversidad MayorSantiagoChile
- Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of StirlingStirlingUK
| | | | | | - Henrik Andrén
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of EcologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesRiddarhyttanSweden
| | | | | | - John Odden
- Norwegian Institute for Nature ResearchOsloNorway
| | - Nils Bunnefeld
- Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of StirlingStirlingUK
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9
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Xiao L, Hua F, Knops JMH, Zhao X, Mishra C, Lovari S, Alexander JS, Weckworth B, Lu Z. Spatial separation of prey from livestock facilitates coexistence of a specialized large carnivore with human land use. Anim Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L Xiao
- School of Life Sciences Peking University Beijing China
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences Xi'an Jiaotong‐Liverpool University Suzhou China
| | - F Hua
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences Peking University Beijing China
| | - J M H Knops
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences Xi'an Jiaotong‐Liverpool University Suzhou China
| | - X Zhao
- Shanshui Conservation Center Beijing China
| | - C Mishra
- Snow Leopard Trust Seattle WA USA
| | - S Lovari
- Department of Life Sciences University of Siena Siena Italy
| | | | | | - Z Lu
- School of Life Sciences Peking University Beijing China
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10
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Jiren TS, Riechers M, Kansky R, Fischer J. Participatory scenario planning to facilitate human-wildlife coexistence. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:1957-1965. [PMID: 33634504 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Fostering human-wildlife coexistence requires transdisciplinary approaches that integrate multiple sectors, account for complexity and uncertainty, and ensure stakeholder participation. One such approach is participatory scenario planning, but to date, this approach has not been used in human-wildlife contexts. We devised a template for how participatory scenario planning can be applied to identify potential avenues for improving human-wildlife coexistence. We drew on 3 conceptual building blocks, namely the SEEDS framework, the notion of critical uncertainties, and the three-horizons technique. To illustrate the application of the proposed template, we conducted a case study in the Zambezi region of Namibia. We held 5 multistakeholder workshops that involved local people as well as numerous nongovernment and government stakeholders. We identified 14 important wildlife species that generated multiple services and disservices. The subsequent benefits and burdens, in turn, were inequitably distributed among stakeholders. Government actors played particularly influential roles in shaping social-ecological outcomes. We identified 2 critical uncertainties for the future: the nature of governance (fragmented vs. collaborative) and the type of wildlife economy (hunting vs. photography based). Considering these uncertainties resulted in 4 plausible scenarios describing future human-wildlife coexistence. Stakeholders did not agree on a single preferred scenario, but nevertheless agreed on several high-priority strategies. Bridging the remaining gaps among actors will require ongoing deliberation among stakeholders. Navigating the complex challenges posed by living with wildlife requires moving beyond disciplinary approaches. To that end, our template could prove useful in many landscapes around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maraja Riechers
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lueneburg, Lueneburg, Germany
| | - Ruth Kansky
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Joern Fischer
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lueneburg, Lueneburg, Germany
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Marchini S, Ferraz KMPMB, Foster V, Reginato T, Kotz A, Barros Y, Zimmermann A, Macdonald DW. Planning for Human-Wildlife Coexistence: Conceptual Framework, Workshop Process, and a Model for Transdisciplinary Collaboration. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.752953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Coexistence, as a concept and as a management goal and practice, has attracted increasing attention from researchers, managers and decision-makers dedicated to understanding and improving human-wildlife interactions. Although it still lacks a universally agreed definition, coexistence has increasingly been associated with a broad spectrum of human-wildlife interactions, including positive interactions, transcending a conservation focus on endangered wildlife, and involving explicitly considerations of power, equity and justice. In a growingly complex and interconnected human-dominated world, the key to turning human-wildlife interactions into large-scale coexistence is thorough planning. We present an approach for evidence-based, structured, and participatory decision-making in planning for human-wildlife coexistence. More specifically, we propose (i) a conceptual framework for describing the situation and setting the goals, (ii) a process for examining the causes of the situation and creating a theory of change, and (iii) a model for transdisciplinary research and collaboration integrating researchers, decision-makers and residents along with the interests of wildlife. To illustrate the approach, we report on the workshop considering the Jaguars of Iguaçu, a conservation project whose strategy includes the improvement of the relationship between ranchers and jaguars outside Iguaçu National Park, Brazil.
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12
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Hughes C, Steenweg RJ, Vander Vennen LM, Melnycky NA, Fullerton L, Witiw JT, Morehouse A. Working Together for Grizzly Bears: A Collaborative Approach to Estimate Population Abundance in Northwest Alberta, Canada. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.719044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Grizzly bears are a threatened species in Alberta, Canada, and their conservation and management is guided by a provincial recovery plan. While empirical abundance and densities estimates have been completed for much of the province, empirical data are lacking for the northwest region of Alberta, a 2.8 million hectare area called Bear Management Area 1 (BMA 1). In part, this is due to limited staff capacity and funding to cover a vast geographic area, and a boreal landscape that is difficult to navigate. Using a collaborative approach, a multi-stakeholder working group called the Northwest Grizzly Bear Team (NGBT) was established to represent land use and grizzly bear interests across BMA 1. Collectively, we identified our project objectives using a Theory of Change approach, to articulate our interests and needs, and develop common ground to ultimately leverage human, social, financial and policy resources to implement the project. This included establishing 254 non-invasive genetic hair corral sampling sites across BMA 1, and using spatially explicit capture-recapture models to estimate grizzly bear density. Our results are two-fold: first we describe the process of developing and then operating within a collaborative, multi-stakeholder governance arrangement, and demonstrate how our approach was key to both improving relationships across stakeholders but also delivering on our grizzly bear project objectives; and, secondly we present the first-ever grizzly bear population estimate for BMA 1, including identifying 16 individual bears and estimating density at 0.70 grizzly bears/1,000 km2-the lowest recorded density of an established grizzly bear population in Alberta. Our results are not only necessary for taking action on one of Alberta's iconic species at risk, but also demonstrate the value and power of collaboration to achieve a conservation goal.
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13
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Pettersson HL, Quinn CH, Holmes G, Sait SM, López-Bao JV. Welcoming Wolves? Governing the Return of Large Carnivores in Traditional Pastoral Landscapes. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.710218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolf populations are recovering across Europe and readily recolonize most areas where humans allow their presence. Reintegrating wolves in human-dominated landscapes is a major challenge, particularly in places where memories and experience of coexistence have been lost. Despite the observed expansion trends, little has been done to prepare communities for the return of these apex predators, or to understand what fosters and perpetuates coexistence. In this study, we present a theoretical framework for resilient coexistence based on four conditions: Effective institutions, large carnivore persistence, social legitimacy, and low levels of risk and vulnerability, nested within the social-ecological systems (SES) concept. To empirically show how the conditions can be manifested and interconnected, and how this knowledge could be used to improve local coexistence capacities, the framework is applied in a case study of human–wolf relations in Spain. We examined three traditionally pastoral landscapes at different states of cohabitation with wolves: uninterrupted presence, recent recolonization, and imminent return. We found that both the perceptions of wolves and the capacity to coexist with them diverged across these states, and that this was largely determined by a diversity of vulnerabilities that have not been recognized or addressed within current management regimes, such as economic precarity and weak legitimacy for governing institutions. Our results illustrate the importance of working in close contact with communities to understand local needs and enhance adaptive capacities in the face of rural transitions, beyond those directly related to wolves. The framework complements emerging tools for coexistence developed by researchers and practitioners, which offer guidance on the process of situational analysis, planning, and resource allocation needed to balance large carnivore conservation with local livelihoods.
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Volski L, McInturff A, Gaynor KM, Yovovich V, Brashares JS. Social Effectiveness and Human-Wildlife Conflict: Linking the Ecological Effectiveness and Social Acceptability of Livestock Protection Tools. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.682210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-wildlife interactions are embedded within socio-ecological systems (SES), in which animal behavior and human decision-making reciprocally interact. While a growing body of research addresses specific social and ecological elements of human-wildlife interactions, including conflicts, integrating these approaches is essential for identifying practical and effective solutions. Carnivore predation on livestock can threaten human livelihoods, weaken relationships among stakeholders, and precipitate carnivore declines. As carnivores have received greater protection in recent decades, researchers and managers have sought non-lethal tools to reduce predation and promote coexistence between livestock producers and carnivores. For these tools to be successful, they must effectively deter carnivores, and they must also be adopted by producers. Relatively few studies examine the practical and context-specific effectiveness of non-lethal tools, and even fewer simultaneously consider their social acceptability among producers. To address this gap, we suggest that a tool's ecological effectiveness and social acceptability be analyzed concurrently to determine its social effectiveness. We thus paired an experimental study of a carnivore predation deterrent called Foxlights® with qualitative interviews of livestock producers in Northern California. We placed camera traps in sheep pastures to measure the response of coyotes (Canis latrans) to experimentally deployed Foxlights and interviewed livestock producers before and after the experiment. Our experiment revealed weak evidence for reducing coyote activity with Foxlights, but interviews revealed that the potential adoption of tools had as much to do with their social acceptability and implementation feasibility as with evidence-based measurements of tool effectiveness. Interviewees viewed Foxlights as potentially effective components of husbandry systems, despite the data suggesting otherwise, demonstrating that scientific reductionism may lag behind producer practices of systems-thinking and that isolated demonstrations of a tool's ecological effectiveness do not drive tool adoption. Future empirical tests of non-lethal tools should better consider producers' perspectives and acknowledge that data-based tests of ecological effectiveness alone have a limited place in producer decision-making. Iteratively working with producers can build trust in scientific outputs through the research process itself.
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15
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Clark DA, Brook RK, Doney ED, Frank B, Jung TS, Lee DS, Lambert S, Parlee B. Collaborative and consensus-based approaches for human-wildlife coexistence: response to Treves and Santiago-Ávila 2020. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:1334-1336. [PMID: 34324233 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas A Clark
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Ryan K Brook
- College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Ethan D Doney
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Beatrice Frank
- Capital Regional District, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Thomas S Jung
- Department of Environment, Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
| | - David S Lee
- Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
| | - Simon Lambert
- Department of Indigenous Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Brenda Parlee
- University of Alberta, REES, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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16
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Darimont CT, Hall H, Eckert L, Mihalik I, Artelle K, Treves A, Paquet PC. Large carnivore hunting and the social license to hunt. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:1111-1119. [PMID: 33047399 PMCID: PMC8359201 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The social license to operate framework considers how society grants or withholds informal permission for resource extractors to exploit publicly owned resources. We developed a modified model, which we refer to as the social license to hunt (SLH). In it we similarly consider hunters as operators, given that wildlife are legally considered public resources in North America and Europe. We applied the SLH model to examine the controversial hunting of large carnivores, which are frequently killed for trophies. Killing for trophies is widespread, but undertaken by a minority of hunters, and can pose threats to the SLH for trophy-seeking carnivore hunters and potentially beyond. Societal opposition to large carnivore hunting relates not only to conservation concerns but also to misalignment between killing for trophies and dominant public values and attitudes concerning the treatment of animals. We summarized cases related to the killing of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), wolves (Canis lupus), and other large carnivores in Canada, the United States, and Europe to illustrate how opposition to large carnivore hunting, now expressed primarily on social media, can exert rapid and significant pressure on policy makers and politicians. Evidence of the potential for transformative change to wildlife management and conservation includes proposed and realized changes to legislation, business practice, and wildlife policy, including the banning of some large carnivore hunts. Given that policy is ultimately shaped by societal values and attitudes, research gaps include developing increased insight into public support of various hunting policies beyond that derived from monitoring of social media and public polling. Informed by increased evidence, the SLH model can provide a conceptual foundation for predicting the likelihood of transient versus enduring changes to wildlife conservation policy and practice for a wide variety of taxa and contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris T. Darimont
- Department of GeographyUniversity of VictoriaP.O. Box 1700VictoriaBritish ColumbiaV8W 2Y2Canada
- Raincoast Conservation FoundationP.O. Box 2429SidneyBritish ColumbiaV8L 3Y3Canada
| | - Hannah Hall
- Department of GeographyUniversity of VictoriaP.O. Box 1700VictoriaBritish ColumbiaV8W 2Y2Canada
- Raincoast Conservation FoundationP.O. Box 2429SidneyBritish ColumbiaV8L 3Y3Canada
| | - Lauren Eckert
- Department of GeographyUniversity of VictoriaP.O. Box 1700VictoriaBritish ColumbiaV8W 2Y2Canada
- Raincoast Conservation FoundationP.O. Box 2429SidneyBritish ColumbiaV8L 3Y3Canada
| | - Ilona Mihalik
- Department of GeographyUniversity of VictoriaP.O. Box 1700VictoriaBritish ColumbiaV8W 2Y2Canada
- Raincoast Conservation FoundationP.O. Box 2429SidneyBritish ColumbiaV8L 3Y3Canada
| | - Kyle Artelle
- Department of GeographyUniversity of VictoriaP.O. Box 1700VictoriaBritish ColumbiaV8W 2Y2Canada
- Raincoast Conservation FoundationP.O. Box 2429SidneyBritish ColumbiaV8L 3Y3Canada
| | - Adrian Treves
- Nelson Institute for Environmental StudiesUniversity of Wisconsin550 North Park StreetMadisonWI53706U.S.A.
| | - Paul C. Paquet
- Department of GeographyUniversity of VictoriaP.O. Box 1700VictoriaBritish ColumbiaV8W 2Y2Canada
- Raincoast Conservation FoundationP.O. Box 2429SidneyBritish ColumbiaV8L 3Y3Canada
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17
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Carter NH, Nelson P, Easter T. A call for a national collaborative predator coexistence programme. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Neil H. Carter
- School for Environment and Sustainability University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USA
| | | | - Tara Easter
- School for Environment and Sustainability University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USA
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18
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Community-Based Conservation for the Sustainable Management of Conservation Conflicts: Learning from Practitioners. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13147557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
We explore the role of community-based conservation (CBC) in the sustainable management of conservation conflicts by examining the experiences of conservation practitioners trying to address conflicts between snow leopard conservation and pastoralism in Asian mountains. Practitioner experiences are examined through the lens of the PARTNERS principles for CBC (Presence, Aptness, Respect, Transparency, Negotiation, Empathy, Responsiveness, and Strategic Support) that represent an inclusive conservation framework for effective and ethical engagement with local communities. Case studies from India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Pakistan show that resilient relationships arising from respectful engagement and negotiation with local communities can provide a strong platform for robust conflict management. We highlight the heuristic value of documenting practitioner experiences in on-the-ground conflict management and community-based conservation efforts.
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19
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Using Landscape Change Analysis and Stakeholder Perspective to Identify Driving Forces of Human–Wildlife Interactions. LAND 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/land10020146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Human–wildlife interactions (HWI) were frequent in the post-socialist period in the mountain range of Central European countries where forest habitats suffered transitions into built-up areas. Such is the case of the Upper Prahova Valley from Romania. In our study, we hypothesized that the increasing number of HWI after 1990 could be a potential consequence of woodland loss. The goal of our study was to analyse the effects of landscape changes on HWI. The study consists of the next steps: (i) applying 450 questionnaires to local stakeholders (both citizens and tourists) in order to collect data regarding HWI temporal occurrences and potential triggering factors; (ii) investigating the relation between the two variables through the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA); (iii) modelling the landscape spatial changes between 1990 and 2018 for identifying areas with forest loss; (iv) overlapping the distribution of both the households affected by HWI and areas with loss of forested ecosystems. The local stakeholders indicate that the problematic species are the brown bear (Ursus arctos), the wild boar (Sus scrofa), the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the grey wolf (Canis lupus). The number of animal–human interactions recorded an upward trend between 1990 and 2018, and the most significant driving factors were the regulation of hunting practices, the loss of habitats, and artificial feeding. The landscape change analysis reveals that between 1990 and 2018, the forest habitats were replaced by built-up areas primarily on the outskirts of settlements, these areas coinciding with frequent HWI. The results are valid for both forest ecosystems conservation in the region, wildlife management, and human infrastructures durable spatial planning.
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20
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Grossmann CM, Patkó L, Ortseifen D, Kimmig E, Cattoen EM, Schraml U. Human-Large Carnivores Co-existence in Europe – A Comparative Stakeholder Network Analysis. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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21
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Killion AK, Ramirez JM, Carter NH. Human adaptation strategies are key to cobenefits in human–wildlife systems. Conserv Lett 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander K. Killion
- School for Environment & Sustainability University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan
| | | | - Neil H. Carter
- School for Environment & Sustainability University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan
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22
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Salvatori V, Balian E, Blanco JC, Ciucci P, Demeter L, Hartel T, Marsden K, Redpath SM, von Korff Y, Young JC. Applying Participatory Processes to Address Conflicts Over the Conservation of Large Carnivores: Understanding Conditions for Successful Management. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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23
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Niedziałkowski K, Putkowska-Smoter R. What makes a major change of wildlife management policy possible? Institutional analysis of Polish wolf governance. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231601. [PMID: 32324831 PMCID: PMC7179832 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Poland was one of the first countries of Central and Eastern Europe with stable wolf populations to effectively introduce year-round protection of the species. This paper traces the process of policy change using institutional theory as an organizational perspective. Based on the analysis of data from desk research and semi-structured interviews, we propose a model of institutional change and argue that in the 1990s, environmental activists and wildlife biologists successfully used a political window of opportunity connected with socio-economic transformation after 1989 and managed to induce the government to move the species from the domain of hunting to the domain of nature conservation. The new policy, informed by an ecological paradigm, diverged from the historical path dominated by hunters and the vision of the wolf as a pest and a hunting target. The improved protection led to the numerical growth of Poland's wolves and ultimately to their westward expansion.
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Hartel T, Scheele BC, Rozylowicz L, Horcea-Milcu A, Cogălniceanu D. The social context for conservation: Amphibians in human shaped landscapes with high nature values. J Nat Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2019.125762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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