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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Who is local and what do they know? Braiding knowledges within carnivore management in Europe

People and Nature, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 22, 2025

Abstract Growing recognition of Indigenous Peoples and traditional local communities as stewards biodiversity has brought to the fore issues knowledge value pluralism in conservation policy practice. Given their basis practical multi‐generational experience, knowledges are highly relevant managing human–wildlife interactions, especially species that challenging live with. Yet, these situated forms remain overlooked marginalised, ‘local knowledge’, it is unclear what or whom encompassed within term. We explore context pastoral areas Europe, where populations large carnivores such wolves currently expanding. ask: who ‘local’, constitutes knowledge’ can this contribute carnivore management? show continuous exchanges between long‐settled residents, newcomers transient people mean ‘localness’ cannot be approached a dualist position. Similarly, dynamic continuously evolving face ongoing emerging change, which makes efforts categorisation preservation complex. argue current approaches incorporating often fail account for complexity, producing unjust ineffective policies strategies. To advance understanding, we offer an approach situates those hold on spectrum characteristics. then describe challenges braiding particularly management, illustrated by examples from our own research broader literature. tackle challenges, propose ‘spacing’ planning investing networks emplaced practitioners, tasked with coordinating mobilisation locally adapted strategies coexistence. Policy implications . Pluralism management goes beyond technical know‐how communities. It requires better different kinds skills, at all scales, produce outcomes nature. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Continuing recovery of wolves in Europe

PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 4(2), P. e0000158 - e0000158

Published: Feb. 25, 2025

The recovery of wolves ( Canis lupus ) across Europe is a notable conservation success in region with extensive human alteration landscapes and high population densities. We provide comprehensive update on wolf populations Europe, estimated at over 21,500 individuals by 2022, representing 58% increase the past decade. Despite challenges densities significant land use for agriculture, industry, urbanization, have demonstrated remarkable adaptability increasing trends most European countries. Improved monitoring techniques, although varying quality scope, played crucial role tracking this recovery. Annually, kill approximately 56,000 domestic animals EU, risk unevenly distributed differently handled regions. Damage compensation costs 17 million EUR every year to Positive economic impacts from presence, such as those related reducing traffic accidents wild ungulates or supporting wildlife tourism, remain under studied. Wolf supported diverse policy legal instruments LIFE programs, stakeholder platforms, well EU Habitats Directive Bern Convention. Coexisting newly established entails managing activities, including livestock depredation, competition game, fear attacks humans, amidst social political views Sustainable coexistence continues operate evolving complex social, economic, landscapes, often characterized intense debates regarding policies.

Language: Английский

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Public preference for the rewilding framework: A choice experiment in the Oder Delta

People and Nature, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6(2), P. 610 - 626

Published: Jan. 21, 2024

Abstract Rewilding is an emerging paradigm in restoration science and increasingly gaining popularity as a cost‐effective ecosystem option. A rewilding framework was recently proposed that contains three integral components: restoring trophic complexity, allowing for stochastic disturbances enhancing species' potential to disperse. However, of yet, there has been limited quantitative analysis looking at public preference each its elements. We used discrete choice experiment approach determine the Oder Delta. The unique geographical context Delta, spreading evenly across two countries, allowed us analyse differences between German ( n = 1005) Polish 1066) samples. In both we found respondents were willing pay interventions when compared against status quo Notably, preferences strongest complexity through promoting comeback large mammals. addition, living locally study region had significantly different than nationwide samples, exhibiting negative willingness natural flooding regimes presence predator species. Read free Plain Language Summary this article on Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Welcoming Wolves? Governing the Return of Large Carnivores in Traditional Pastoral Landscapes

Frontiers in Conservation Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2

Published: Sept. 10, 2021

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 places memories experience of coexistence have been lost. Despite the observed expansion trends, little has done to prepare communities for return these apex predators, or understand what fosters perpetuates coexistence. In this study, we present theoretical framework resilient based on four conditions: Effective institutions, large carnivore persistence, social legitimacy, low levels risk vulnerability, nested within social-ecological systems (SES) concept. To empirically show how conditions can be manifested interconnected, knowledge could used improve local capacities, applied case study human–wolf relations Spain. We examined three traditionally pastoral at different states cohabitation with wolves: uninterrupted presence, recent recolonization, imminent return. found that both perceptions capacity coexist them diverged states, was largely determined by diversity vulnerabilities not recognized addressed current management regimes, such as economic precarity weak legitimacy governing institutions. Our results illustrate importance working close contact needs enhance adaptive capacities face rural transitions, beyond those directly related wolves. The complements emerging tools developed researchers practitioners, which offer guidance process situational analysis, planning, resource allocation needed balance conservation livelihoods.

Language: Английский

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Planning for Human-Wildlife Coexistence: Conceptual Framework, Workshop Process, and a Model for Transdisciplinary Collaboration

Frontiers in Conservation Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2

Published: Nov. 24, 2021

Coexistence, as a concept and management goal practice, has attracted increasing attention from researchers, managers decision-makers dedicated to understanding improving human-wildlife interactions. Although it still lacks universally agreed definition, coexistence increasingly been associated with broad spectrum of interactions, including positive transcending conservation focus on endangered wildlife, involving explicitly considerations power, equity justice. In growingly complex interconnected human-dominated world, the key turning interactions into large-scale is thorough planning. We present an approach for evidence-based, structured, participatory decision-making in planning coexistence. More specifically, we propose (i) conceptual framework describing situation setting goals, (ii) process examining causes creating theory change, (iii) model transdisciplinary research collaboration integrating residents along interests wildlife. To illustrate approach, report workshop considering Jaguars Iguaçu , project whose strategy includes improvement relationship between ranchers jaguars outside National Park, Brazil.

Language: Английский

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Emergency‐line calls as an indicator to assess human–wildlife interaction in urban areas

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2023

Abstract Human–wildlife interactions (HWIs) are increasingly common human disturbances as development continues to remove wildlife habitats. Documenting HWI is critical for environmental protection agencies develop strategies and management decisions that meet the needs of both people wildlife. However, evaluation frequency types at broad spatial scales (e.g., national or regional level) can be costly difficult implement by managers. In this study, we apply a novel method patterns in urban areas using publicly available data from emergency calls (ECs) placed inhabitants Romania's areas. We used information 4601 ECs Romanian National Emergency Call System 112, which consisted (1) species, (2) location, (3) date time, (4) short description emergency. Of 318 analyzed cities, 300 cities documented on between 2015 2020, with roe deer brown bear being most frequently mentioned species. recorded an increasing trend HWI‐related 73% over five‐year period. mapped large‐scale distribution species type order capture variations level. Further, social biophysical factors potentially influencing occurrence HWI. The results showed have same effect all while varied Particularly, presence large natural habitats, represented forests, influenced number only bears. Seminatural landscapes agricultural land different influence terms significance considered Our suggest rapid assessment evaluating trends predictors scales.

Language: Английский

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Social Sustainability as Social Learning: Insights from Multi-Stakeholder Environmental Governance

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 13(14), P. 7744 - 7744

Published: July 12, 2021

Social sustainability has for long been either neglected or downplayed in scientific literature and policy making it remains an unsettled concept. The present paper critically examines several explanations the unequal development of social component suggests that learning can serve as insightful anchor conceptualizing operationalizing sustainability. Collaborative governance is used to showcase this approach, specifically, a targeted review multi-stakeholder schemes natural resource management, wildlife conservation, protected area governance. These exemplify wide array commonalities between fields reveal fruitful cross-fertilization two concepts. wishes make contributions. First, specific dialectic stakeholder collaboration conflict under power asymmetries will be illustrated, which characteristic operation many schemes. Second, need scaffolding such demonstrated so process-oriented account attained. way out offered by dynamics conflict, properly managed means toolkit with templates environmental schemes, may precondition innovations sought.

Language: Английский

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Revisiting the Deficit Model: The Effect of Water Science Knowledge on Policy Perceptions

Society & Natural Resources, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 23

Published: Feb. 16, 2025

Language: Английский

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Delisting the Grizzly bear from the Endangered Species Act: shifting politics and political discourse in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Frontiers in Conservation Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: April 16, 2025

Introduction As the Endangered Species Act (ESA) marks its 50th anniversary, it remains one of most influential wildlife conservation laws globally. Designed to protect endangered species and their habitats, ESA sets recovery benchmarks, with ultimate goal delisting once these criteria are met. However, has become a politically charged issue in recent decades, offering critical case study for long-term efficacy ESA. Our manuscript examines this dynamic through lens high-profile case: grizzly bear ( Ursus arctos horribilis ) Intermountain West region United States. We explore complex process delisting, research questions focusing on political actors involved perspectives process. Materials methods To address questions, we analyzed 752 policy documents, news articles, court rulings, extracting 2,832 quotes from key stakeholders. Using structural topic model inductive thematic coding. Results identified five threads discourse surrounding delisting: scientific uncertainty, role regulated hunting, human-wildlife conflict, increased state-level management, surpassing goals. analysis also highlights which commonly advance arguments how roles have shifted over time. Notably, elected legislators, legal advocates, non-governmental organizations increasingly policy, overshadowing traditional authority executive branch officials agency scientists. Conclusions recommendations These findings underscore importance understanding actor dynamics addressing disputes, insights into law may continue evolve future conflicts might be resolved.

Language: Английский

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