Support to Iberian lynx reintroduction and perceived impacts: Assessments before and after reintroduction
Abstract The assessment of the human dimensions of wildlife reintroduction projects is essential for their success. To date, few longitudinal studies (if any) have compared attitudes and perceived impacts before and after human‐assisted large predator reintroduction. In this study, we evaluated publ...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Conservation Science and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.605 |
| _version_ | 1798017964474105856 |
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| author | Miguel Delibes‐Mateos Jenny Anne Glikman Regina Lafuente Rafael Villafuerte Fernando E. Garrido |
| author_facet | Miguel Delibes‐Mateos Jenny Anne Glikman Regina Lafuente Rafael Villafuerte Fernando E. Garrido |
| author_sort | Miguel Delibes‐Mateos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The assessment of the human dimensions of wildlife reintroduction projects is essential for their success. To date, few longitudinal studies (if any) have compared attitudes and perceived impacts before and after human‐assisted large predator reintroduction. In this study, we evaluated public (n = 1582) and hunters' (n = 773) support and perceived benefits and concerns before and after the reintroduction of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) (2007–2008 and 2015–2016, respectively) in southern Spain through a telephone survey. Most respondents supported lynx reintroduction, although support was slightly lower among hunters. Furthermore, support remained very high some years after lynx release. Our findings also revealed that perceptions toward the majority of benefits and concerns did not change after lynx reintroduction, and that those supporting reintroduction perceived more benefits, while opponents were more concerned. This suggests that efforts should focus on those opponents to reintroduction to ensure recognition of the benefits associated with predator restoration, including new tourism opportunists and predator's ecological values. Our research also points at the need of studying more in depth the views of those who oppose to predator reintroduction and of decision‐makers (e.g., landowners or game managers) when poaching is still a risk for restored populations even if the social context is favorable, as in our case‐study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T16:16:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1829fb0136cb4982b72d84cbc98b38db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2578-4854 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T16:16:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Science and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-1829fb0136cb4982b72d84cbc98b38db2022-12-22T04:14:30ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542022-02-0142n/an/a10.1111/csp2.605Support to Iberian lynx reintroduction and perceived impacts: Assessments before and after reintroductionMiguel Delibes‐Mateos0Jenny Anne Glikman1Regina Lafuente2Rafael Villafuerte3Fernando E. Garrido4Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA‐CSIC) Córdoba SpainInstituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA‐CSIC) Córdoba SpainInstituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA‐CSIC) Córdoba SpainInstituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA‐CSIC) Córdoba SpainInstituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA‐CSIC) Córdoba SpainAbstract The assessment of the human dimensions of wildlife reintroduction projects is essential for their success. To date, few longitudinal studies (if any) have compared attitudes and perceived impacts before and after human‐assisted large predator reintroduction. In this study, we evaluated public (n = 1582) and hunters' (n = 773) support and perceived benefits and concerns before and after the reintroduction of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) (2007–2008 and 2015–2016, respectively) in southern Spain through a telephone survey. Most respondents supported lynx reintroduction, although support was slightly lower among hunters. Furthermore, support remained very high some years after lynx release. Our findings also revealed that perceptions toward the majority of benefits and concerns did not change after lynx reintroduction, and that those supporting reintroduction perceived more benefits, while opponents were more concerned. This suggests that efforts should focus on those opponents to reintroduction to ensure recognition of the benefits associated with predator restoration, including new tourism opportunists and predator's ecological values. Our research also points at the need of studying more in depth the views of those who oppose to predator reintroduction and of decision‐makers (e.g., landowners or game managers) when poaching is still a risk for restored populations even if the social context is favorable, as in our case‐study.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.605attitudesbig catshuman dimensions of wildlifehuman‐wildlife conflicthuntinglarge predator conservation |
| spellingShingle | Miguel Delibes‐Mateos Jenny Anne Glikman Regina Lafuente Rafael Villafuerte Fernando E. Garrido Support to Iberian lynx reintroduction and perceived impacts: Assessments before and after reintroduction Conservation Science and Practice attitudes big cats human dimensions of wildlife human‐wildlife conflict hunting large predator conservation |
| title | Support to Iberian lynx reintroduction and perceived impacts: Assessments before and after reintroduction |
| title_full | Support to Iberian lynx reintroduction and perceived impacts: Assessments before and after reintroduction |
| title_fullStr | Support to Iberian lynx reintroduction and perceived impacts: Assessments before and after reintroduction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Support to Iberian lynx reintroduction and perceived impacts: Assessments before and after reintroduction |
| title_short | Support to Iberian lynx reintroduction and perceived impacts: Assessments before and after reintroduction |
| title_sort | support to iberian lynx reintroduction and perceived impacts assessments before and after reintroduction |
| topic | attitudes big cats human dimensions of wildlife human‐wildlife conflict hunting large predator conservation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.605 |
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