TY - JOUR

T1 - Social factors mediating human–carnivore coexistence

T2 - Understanding thematic strands influencing coexistence in Central Romania

AU - Dorresteijn, Ine

AU - Milcu, Andra Ioana

AU - Leventon, Julia

AU - Hanspach, Jan

AU - Fischer, Joern

PY - 2016/5/1

Y1 - 2016/5/1

N2 - Facilitating human–carnivore coexistence depends on the biophysical environment but also on social factors. Focusing on Central Romania, we conducted 71 semi-structured interviews to explore human–bear (Ursus arctos) coexistence. Qualitative content and discourse analysis identified three socially mediated thematic strands, which showed different ways in which perceived interactions between people, bears and the environment shape coexistence. The “landscape-bear strand” described perceptions of the way in which the landscape offers resources for the bear, while the “landscape-human strand” related to ways in which humans experience the landscape. The “management strand” related to the way bears was managed. All three strands highlight both threats and opportunities for the peaceful coexistence of people and bears. Management and policy interventions could be improved by systematically considering the possible effects of interventions on each of the three strands shaping coexistence. Future research should explore the relevance of the identified thematic strands in other settings worldwide.

AB - Facilitating human–carnivore coexistence depends on the biophysical environment but also on social factors. Focusing on Central Romania, we conducted 71 semi-structured interviews to explore human–bear (Ursus arctos) coexistence. Qualitative content and discourse analysis identified three socially mediated thematic strands, which showed different ways in which perceived interactions between people, bears and the environment shape coexistence. The “landscape-bear strand” described perceptions of the way in which the landscape offers resources for the bear, while the “landscape-human strand” related to ways in which humans experience the landscape. The “management strand” related to the way bears was managed. All three strands highlight both threats and opportunities for the peaceful coexistence of people and bears. Management and policy interventions could be improved by systematically considering the possible effects of interventions on each of the three strands shaping coexistence. Future research should explore the relevance of the identified thematic strands in other settings worldwide.

KW - Brown bear

KW - Carnivore conservation

KW - Conflict mitigation

KW - Human–carnivore conflict

KW - Human–nature relationships

KW - Sustainability Science

KW - Brown bear

KW - Carnivore conservation

KW - Conflict mitigation

KW - Human-carnivore conflict

KW - human-nature- relationship

KW - Human-Wildlife Conflict

KW - Biodiversity

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84954418837&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s13280-015-0760-7

DO - 10.1007/s13280-015-0760-7

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 26779907

AN - SCOPUS:84954418837

VL - 45

SP - 490

EP - 500

JO - Ambio

JF - Ambio

SN - 0044-7447

IS - 4

ER -