Media Framing of Financial Mechanisms for Resolving Human–Predator Conflict in Namibia

Niki A Rust

doi:10.1080/10871209.2015.1037027

Abstract

The decline in carnivore populations is largely exacerbated by lethal methods used to reduce livestock depredation. Financial mechanisms are designed to limit lethal control by reducing the cost of depredation. The media can affect how the general public feel about issues like financial mechanisms but no study has been undertaken to understand the framing of this topic. This article filled this gap by using content analysis of newspapers to analyze economic incentives designed to mitigate human–carnivore conflict in Namibia. Forty-six percent of the articles were framed positively toward incentives, 24% ambivalently, 19% negatively, and 11% neutrally. Compensation was commonly framed positively whereas community-based conservation, trophy hunting, and tourism were framed ambivalently. Incentives were framed more negatively where perceived costs outweighed benefits. These results can help conservationists plan more effective communication interventions and anticipate issues that can affect the success of mitigation strategies.

Highlights

Human–wildlife conflict occurs when the needs of humans are negatively affected by the needs or behavior of wildlife, or vice versa (Madden, 2004)
This article filled this gap by using content analysis of newspapers to analyze economic incentives designed to mitigate human–carnivore conflict in Namibia
The most common incentive measure reported in the 122 articles was compensation, followed by trophy hunting (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Human–wildlife conflict occurs when the needs of humans are negatively affected by the needs or behavior of wildlife, or vice versa (Madden, 2004). This conflict poses one of the greatest threats to large carnivores globally (Inskip & Zimmermann, 2009). In southern Africa, where many humans live below the poverty line, carnivores can severely affect the economic stability of households as these species predate upon valuable livestock, which can cause financial ruin if there is no alternative income available (Rust & Marker, 2014). Financial mechanisms aim to reduce the financial burden that carnivores place on livestock farmers (Dickman, Macdonald, & Macdonald, 2011). Regardless of the mechanism, the goal is to increase the value of carnivores so that they are worth more alive than dead to the people who live alongside them (Dickman et al, 2011; Nelson, 2009)

Methods

Results

Conclusion