Work

How Community Members Engage With Wildlife—A Psychological Typology With Implications for Policy Making

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Community perceptions influence wildlife‐related management and policy efforts. However, there remains limited research into population‐level social and psychological aspects driving engagement with wildlife and how this shapes support for broader wildlife management approaches. Here we draw on Australian national data to develop a typology of community engagement with wildlife based on cognitive, affective, and behavioral factors, and how they shape support for wildlife management policies. We identified seven groups reflecting different patterns of engagement with wildlife, ranging from Champions to Disengaged. Importantly, respondents who were members of more engaged groups were also more likely to exhibit polarized views toward wildlife management strategies that involve culling or translocating wildlife. Our results suggest that wildlife managers and decision‐makers should not assume that support for wildlife always translates into support for wildlife management or conservation policies. We discuss approaches to communications and conflict management for diverse social groups.

Source: Wildlife Letters

DOI: 10.1002/wll2.70000

Authors: Cristina Romero‐de‐Diego, Morena Mills, Bradd Witt, Angela Dean

Institutions: The University of Queensland, Imperial College London

Language: English

Topic: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: