Understanding drivers of human tolerance to gray wolves and brown bears as a strategy to improve landholder– carnivore coexistence
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Abstract
Despite recent recovery of large carnivores throughout Europe such as the brown
bear (Ursus arctos) and the graywolf (Canis lupus), some of their populations are still
threatened and their viability depends on human tolerance to share mixed landscapes.
We investigated the drivers of landholders' tolerance in Abruzzo (Italy), a
region with a long history of cohabitation, by applying theWildlife Tolerance Model
(WTM) (Kansky et al., 2016, Biological Conservation, 201, 137–145). Using structural
equation modeling we assessed relationships between WTM variables. This framework
hypothesizes that exposure to a species and experiences with a species drive
perceptions of benefits and costs, and ultimately tolerance.We then sought to understand
similarities and differences in tolerance drivers between the two species and
across two areas that differed in the duration of human–carnivore cohabitation.
Results showed both similarities and differences in drivers between species and areas,
resulting in seven management proposals to foster tolerance. Increasing intangible
benefits and positive experiences were two strategies that were similar for both species
and areas,while five strategies differed across species and areas.Our methodological
approach can be applied in other landscapes with other species to determine the
extent to whichmultispeciesmanagement across landscapes is possible.
Description
CITATION: Marino, F, Kansky, R, Shivji, I, Di Croce, A, Ciucci, P, Knight, AT. Understanding drivers of human tolerance to gray wolves and brown bears as a strategy to improve landholder–carnivore coexistence. Conservation Science and Practice. 2021; 3:e265. doi.10.1111/csp2.265
The original publication is available at: onlinelibrary.wiley.com
The original publication is available at: onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Keywords
Apennine brown bear -- Italy -- Abruzzo, Biodiversity conflicts, Conservation psychology, Gray wolf -- Italy -- Abruzzo, Human-wolf encounters -- Europe, Intangible benefits, Intangible costs, Wildlife Tolerance Model -- Economic aspects, Brown bear -- Effect of human beings on -- Italy, Gray Wolves -- Effect of human beings on -- Italy, Carnivora -- Europe -- Geographical distribution
Citation
Knight, AT. Understanding drivers of human tolerance to gray wolves and brown bears as a strategy to improve landholder–carnivore coexistence. Conservation Science and Practice. 2021; 3:e265. doi.10.1111/csp2.265