Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Of wolves and people – How people’s relationship with nature affects wolf conservation in Portugal

Fernandes Martins, Adriana LU (2023) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20231
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Biodiversity conservation is a key environmental issue. Large carnivores face conservation challenges due to their predatory nature, generating human-wildlife conflicts. For the Iberian wolf to survive in Portugal, human-wolf conflicts must be identified, addressed, and mitigated. Investigating the social dimensions of these conflicts is crucial to reach solutions. Through a literature review and interviews with stakeholders, I identify the underlying problems and possible solutions to mitigate human-wolf conflicts through a multiple environmentalities perspective. Then, I investigate what undermines conflict resolution using the concept of human dimensions. I find that wolf depredation is the main source of conflict. Possible solutions... (More)
Biodiversity conservation is a key environmental issue. Large carnivores face conservation challenges due to their predatory nature, generating human-wildlife conflicts. For the Iberian wolf to survive in Portugal, human-wolf conflicts must be identified, addressed, and mitigated. Investigating the social dimensions of these conflicts is crucial to reach solutions. Through a literature review and interviews with stakeholders, I identify the underlying problems and possible solutions to mitigate human-wolf conflicts through a multiple environmentalities perspective. Then, I investigate what undermines conflict resolution using the concept of human dimensions. I find that wolf depredation is the main source of conflict. Possible solutions include damage compensation schemes and ecological restoration. While these are known to researchers and policymakers, stakeholder conflict and political inaction have hampered progress. Based on the results, I suggest integrating human dimensions as an alternative to traditional top-down approaches to ease tensions among stakeholders, something crucial to mitigating human-wolf conflicts. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Fernandes Martins, Adriana LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
wolf conservation, human-wolf conflicts, stakeholder conflict, human dimensions, sustainability science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2023:019
language
English
id
9117629
date added to LUP
2023-05-31 09:10:45
date last changed
2023-05-31 09:10:45
@misc{9117629,
  abstract     = {{Biodiversity conservation is a key environmental issue. Large carnivores face conservation challenges due to their predatory nature, generating human-wildlife conflicts. For the Iberian wolf to survive in Portugal, human-wolf conflicts must be identified, addressed, and mitigated. Investigating the social dimensions of these conflicts is crucial to reach solutions. Through a literature review and interviews with stakeholders, I identify the underlying problems and possible solutions to mitigate human-wolf conflicts through a multiple environmentalities perspective. Then, I investigate what undermines conflict resolution using the concept of human dimensions. I find that wolf depredation is the main source of conflict. Possible solutions include damage compensation schemes and ecological restoration. While these are known to researchers and policymakers, stakeholder conflict and political inaction have hampered progress. Based on the results, I suggest integrating human dimensions as an alternative to traditional top-down approaches to ease tensions among stakeholders, something crucial to mitigating human-wolf conflicts.}},
  author       = {{Fernandes Martins, Adriana}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Of wolves and people – How people’s relationship with nature affects wolf conservation in Portugal}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}