The conflict-coexistence continuum: a human dimension case study on wild boar management in Italy

Frank, Beatrice (2012) The conflict-coexistence continuum: a human dimension case study on wild boar management in Italy. Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The expansion of human settlement into natural landscapes and the arrival of species into rural and urban areas have led to frequent human-wildlife interactions. Although such interactions can turn into positive or negative experiences for humans and wildlife, researchers have conventionally looked at the negative side, focusing on conflicts. This emphasis on conflict has represented a constraint to wildlife conservation ; authorities have focused on reducing negative experiences,rather than on increasing positive interactions between humans and wildlife. The overarching goal of this dissertation is to address this gap by better encompassing coexistence in conservation. Thus, this dissertation explores the concepts of conflict and coexistence as related events along a continuous line, with major conflicts positioned at one end, and the integration and acceptance of wildlife within the human landscape at the other. The conflict-coexistence continuum was developed using a framework that examines negative to positive feelings toward species in wildlife management and conservation. The specific objectives of this study investigate how the conflict-coexistence continuum and framework were shaped by: I) the format of the scale used to explore this concept 2) the location in which participants' live; and 3) the perceptions participants hold toward wildlife and its management. To investigate these three objectives and implement the framework, a case study using wild boar was completed in two protected areas of central Italy. Quantitative face-to-face interviews were carried out about wild boar and wild boar management in Circeo National Park (n= 801) and the Regional Nature Reserve Nazzano-Tevere-Farfa (n= 452). While the emphasis on conflict outlined in this dissertation is not original,the idea of integrating conflict and coexistence along a continuum as a way to achieve conservation is new. As demonstrated in this dissertation, conflict and coexistence are related concepts influenced by factors such as the location of participants, their perception of species, and their specific interactions with wildlife. It is shown that researchers and managers should not simply focus on addressing negative experiences between humans and wildlife. They should also be creative and innovative in using coexistence interactions to increase the public's willingness to tolerate wildlife in their proximity.

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