Evolving Our Understanding and Practice in Addressing Social Conflict and Stakeholder Engagement Around Conservation Translocations

Jenny Anne Glikman,Camilla Sandström,Francine Madden,Beatrice Frank,Alexandra Zimmermann,Samantha Meysohn,Michelle Bogardus

doi:10.3389/fcosc.2022.783709

Abstract

The conservation field has evolved to include an understanding of human values and attitudes toward wildlife; however, there is still too little emphasis on, and prioritization of, building understanding of the complex and context-specific social conflicts among people and groups involved with or impacted by conservation actions, including translocation. Both foci add value, but the latter is critical for building receptivity for conservation efforts and more thoughtfully designing appropriate context-specific processes for stakeholder engagement and shared decision-making. A deeper analysis of the social conflict dynamics involving the human relationships among individuals and groups engaged in a conservation conflict is needed as a first step in paving the way for the long-term success of conservation projects. Using a “Levels of Conflict” model offers a starting place for the analysis of social conflict often underpinning conservation translocation efforts. Further, we recommend employing a Conservation Conflict Transformation approach when considering conservation translocations to ensure that stakeholder engagement processes sufficiently engage the system, reconcile deep-rooted conflict among those involved and offer the best chance for shared progress and conservation success.

Highlights

DEEPENING ANALYSIS OF AND THE PUBLIC’S ENGAGEMENT IN CONSERVATION TRANSLOCATION DECISION-MAKINGConservation translocations involve the deliberate movement of living organisms from one area to another through reintroduction or reinforcement efforts of existing species populations to benefit conservation of the focal species (IUCN, 2013)
We propose that conservation translocation projects should employ early analytical tools that orient the conservation practitioner and stakeholders to the depth and types of conflict that are at play in conservation efforts
The goal of conservation translocations targets a biological need for ecosystem or species restoration through time, the biological component is only one part of the equation for success

Summary

Evolving Our Understanding and Practice in Addressing Social

Conflict and Stakeholder Engagement Around Conservation Translocations. Jenny Anne Glikman 1*†, Beatrice Frank 2, Michelle Bogardus 3, Samantha Meysohn 4, Camilla Sandström 5, Alexandra Zimmermann 6 and Francine Madden 7*†. The conservation field has evolved to include an understanding of human values and attitudes toward wildlife; there is still too little emphasis on, and prioritization of, building understanding of the complex and context-specific social conflicts among people and groups involved with or impacted by conservation actions, including translocation. Both foci add value, but the latter is critical for building receptivity for conservation efforts and more thoughtfully designing appropriate context-specific processes for stakeholder engagement and shared decision-making.

INTRODUCTION

LEVELS OF CONFLICTS IN CONSERVATION TRANSLOCATIONS

CONCLUSION

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS