Are Wolves the Real Problem? Challenges Faced by Livestock Farmers Living Alongside Wolves in Northwestern Greece

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(3), P. 1083 - 1083

Published: Jan. 28, 2025

Mitigating human–wolf conflict is crucial, yet conventional approaches often overlook the broader socioeconomic challenges faced by farming communities. Wolves frequently become scapegoats for deeper rooted issues such as economic disadvantages, policy deficiencies, and rural depopulation. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 118 livestock farmers to examine (a) farmer profiles wolf-related interactions, (b) professional proposed solutions, (c) reasons perceiving wolves a major problem, (d) impact of wolf presence on job dissatisfaction. Farmers reported low specialized education satisfaction, particularly regarding income. Many struggled afford or find shepherds, especially sheep/goat farmers. Guardian dog poisoning incidents dissatisfaction damage compensation system were prevalent. Key included marginalization, presence, climatic factors, inadequate grazing policies, infrastructure deficits, distrust in policy, depopulation, lack services. who perceived problem implemented weaker preventive measures moved herds seasonally over longer distances. Job was linked type, marginalization. Our findings emphasize that while farmers, policy-related factors play greater role. Educational initiatives, supportive effective depredation mitigation, fair systems are essential sustainable coexistence wolves. By tackling challenges, enhancing supporting adapt evolving circumstances, sector can thrive minimizing conflicts associated

Language: Английский

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Urban rewilding: Human-wildlife relations in Genoa, NW Italy

Cities, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 144, P. 104660 - 104660

Published: Nov. 16, 2023

In recent years, the presence of urban wildlife has increased in many cities around world, with consequent increase human-animal relations. The city Genoa (NW Italy) is a particularly complex case study where such phenomena are associated rural depopulation surrounding countryside and spontaneous rewilding processes that have led several animal species to approach areas search new spaces. This paper deals human-wildlife interactions relation geography by way survey circulated throughout Genoa. Drawing from data, research investigates residents' perceptions understanding their area residency focus on wild boars. People's responses show some higher level interaction wildlife, this partly affects which perceived tolerated population. addition, results there no clear opposition towards people concerned about sustainable forms planning benefit both residents wildlife.

Language: Английский

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The effect of wolves on the exit and voicing exit of Swiss mountain farmers

Journal of Rural Studies, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 96, P. 167 - 179

Published: Nov. 4, 2022

Wolves are perceived as a threat by small ruminant farmers in Switzerland. In this study, we examined whether there is an association between exit from farming and wolf prevalence. We drew on Hirshman's “exit, voice, loyalty” theory to shed light (1) farmers' strategies the past (2) famers' voice future intentions of exiting (“voicing exit”), when dealing with wolves. Using farm panel data Swiss (13,954 regular farms 3758 Alpine summer farms), first applied mixed-effect logistic regression model estimate rate farming. then conducted survey among (n = 928) show correlations burden caused wolves intention how long continue keeping ruminants. differentiated “all-year” farms. were able that wolves, other important factors, played but significant role farming, mainly herds. The results also revealed exposed greater pressure more likely potential general, real will because highlight should be seriously taken into account for further management decisions.

Language: Английский

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On the Multiple Identities of Stakeholders in Wolf Management in Minnesota, United States

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: June 16, 2022

Social identity theory offers a means to understand attitudes about wolves, with consequences for management support. Using data from mail survey we explored relationships among seven identities (i.e., wolf advocate, hunter, environmentalist, nature enthusiast, farmer, trapper, conservationist) using multidimensional scaling (MDS) and principal components analysis (PCA). We examined how correlated political ideology, trust in wildlife agency, value orientations (WVOs) evaluated whether WVOs mediated the relationship between attitudes. PCA suggested two factors identifying stakeholders, while MDS correlations found diversity stakeholders beyond these factors. Hunter was most strongly associated domination WVO conservative ideology. Farmer agency distrust negative Wolf advocate mutualism beliefs that humans are meant coexist harmonious wildlife), trust, positive Conservationist positively all other identities. partially

Language: Английский

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Predictors of carnivore tolerance among census-designated and self-identified rural and urban residents in Idaho, USA

Published: April 19, 2024

Carnivore tolerance is a common management goal in rapidly changing American West. In recent decades, Idaho and other states with historically rural populations now contain highly urbanized areas. Given known differences among urban populations, current demographic circumstances may exist for resident to self-identify as but reside census-designate area. To explore census-designated self- identified residency, stratified random sample of residents was used predict mountain lion (Puma concolor) gray wolf (Canis lupus) tolerance. Predictors included past experience, perceived risk, affect. Regression analysis resulted statistically significant model, risk negative emotions the main predictors Additional models illustrated variations objective subjective indicators residency. Findings suggest self-identified residency be consideration effectively diagnose manage human- carnivore interactions experiencing shifting rural-urban demographics.

Language: Английский

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Emotions shape attitudes towards wolf conservation management in the Italian Alps

European Journal of Wildlife Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 71(1)

Published: Dec. 18, 2024

Abstract Across Europe, wolves are recolonizing former habitats, but frictions between and people remain a challenge. Better understanding of attitudes towards existing management practices is essential to devise wolf that better considers societal aspects. In this study, we focus on case study in the Italian Alps, where conducted quantitative survey investigate management. We used multiple regression analysis determine which factors such as emotions knowledge or belonging particular stakeholder group explained variations found almost half our respondents felt scared about presence wolves, who had less factually correct were more afraid than factual knowledge. Farmers reported significantly higher ratings anger, fear, frustration general population. anger fascination significant predictors for management, knowledge, education level connectedness nature not. Our findings support further engagement take seriously address range stakeholders impact public co-existence cultural landscapes Alps.

Language: Английский

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