Large carnivores include iconic species such as bears, wolves and big cats. Their habitats are increasingly being shared with humans, and there is a growing number of examples of human-carnivore coexistence as well as conflict. Next to population dynamics of large carnivores, there are considerable attitude shifts towards these species worldwide with multiple implications.
This book argues and demonstrates why human dimensions of relationships to large carnivores are crucial for their successful conservation and management. It provides an overview of theoretical and methodological perspectives, heterogeneity in stakeholder perceptions and behaviour as well as developments in decision making, stakeholder involvement, policy and governance informed by human dimensions of large carnivore conservation and management. The scope is international, with detailed examples and case studies from Europe, North and South America, Central and South Asia, as well as debates of the challenges faced by urbanization, agricultural expansion, national parks and protected areas. The main species covered include bears, wolves, lynx, and leopards.
The book provides a novel perspective for advanced students, researchers and professionals in ecology and conservation, wildlife management, human-wildlife interactions, environmental education and environmental social science.
Part I Theoretical and methodological perspectives 1. Addressing human dimensions in large carnivore conservation and management: Insights from environmental social science and social psychology 2. Research amidst the contentious issue of wolf presence: Exploration of reference frames and social, cultural, and political dimensions 3. Socio-political illegal acts as a challenge for wolf conservation and management: Implications for legitimizing traditional hunting practices 4. Situated, reflexive research in practice: Applying feminist methodology to a study of human-bear conflict 5. A methodology for stakeholder analysis, consultation and engagement in large carnivore conservation and management Part II Heterogeneity in perceptions of and behaviour towards large carnivores 6. A community divided: Local perspectives on the reintroduction of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) to the UK 7. Heterogeneity in perceptions of large carnivores: Insights from Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai, and Ladakh 8. Considering wolves as active agents in understanding stakeholder perceptions and developing management strategies 9. Attitudes towards large carnivore species in the West Carpathians: Shifts in public perception and media content after the return of the wolf and the bear 10. Rural-urban heterogeneity in attitudes towards large carnivores in Sweden, 1976-2014 11. Challenging the false dichotomy of Us vs Them: Heterogeneity in stakeholder identities regarding carnivores Part III Decision-making, stakeholder involvement, and policy in large carnivore conservation and management 12. Inappropriate consideration of animal interests in predator management: Towards a comprehensive moral code 13. Science, society and snow Leopards: Bridging the divides through collaborations and best practice convergence 14. Between politics and management: Governing large carnivores in Fennoscandia 15. Trans-boundary and trans-regional management of a large carnivore: Managing brown bears across national and regional borders in Europe 16. Good practice in large carnivore conservation and management: Insights from the EU Platform on coexistence between people and large carnivores
Tasos Hovardas is the Human Dimensions Expert of CALLISTO - Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society, and through CALLISTO, he is providing consultancy services to the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large carnivores. Tasos acts as Editor-in-Chief of Society & Natural Resources (2017-2020) together with Prof. Linda Prokopy (2017-2020). He is an Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Research in Science Teaching (2017-2020) and a member of the Research in Science & Technology Education Group at the University of Cyprus.
Reviews for Large Carnivore Conservation and Management: Human Dimensions
'This excellent volume condenses decaded of high-quality research into who the relevant stakeholders are, how they interact with each other, and how their value systems, mandates and actions influence the legitimacy and outcomes of carnivore management policies...This book is neither dogmatic nor does it contain unnecessary jargon, making it an accessible resource that provides generous practical guidance...The book covers a lot of ground and it provides a valuable resource for those involved in, or unfamiliar with, the human dimensions of large carnivore conservation and management.' - Florian J. Weise, Ongava Research Centre, Namibia in Fauna & Flora International, Cambridge, UK (https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605319000486)
