Social and ecological dimensions are needed to understand human‐wildlife conflict in subsistence farming context

Abstract This study explores the social, economic and environmental dimensions of human‐wildlife conflict (HWC) in four districts of Bhutan. Looking beyond the common unidimensional approach to the evaluation of HWCs, it documents the multifaceted nature of HWCs through a social‐ecological system (S...

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Main Authors: Yeshey, Rodney J. Keenan, Rebecca M. Ford, Craig R. Nitschke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:People and Nature
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10740
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author Yeshey
Rodney J. Keenan
Rebecca M. Ford
Craig R. Nitschke
author_facet Yeshey
Rodney J. Keenan
Rebecca M. Ford
Craig R. Nitschke
author_sort Yeshey
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study explores the social, economic and environmental dimensions of human‐wildlife conflict (HWC) in four districts of Bhutan. Looking beyond the common unidimensional approach to the evaluation of HWCs, it documents the multifaceted nature of HWCs through a social‐ecological system (SES) lens. We carried out a mixed method analysis of HWC based on 96 interviews consisting of qualitative and quantitative data and eight focus group discussions conducted in four districts representing four regions of Bhutan. Our case study finding reveals that HWC scenarios are complex and there is spatial variation in both social and ecological factors that contribute to HWC. In some areas, ecological aspects such as the composition and behaviour of wildlife species exacerbate the conflict, while in other regions the co‐occurrence of wildlife and livestock in the same ‘wild’ landscape drives HWC. The socio‐economic dimensions of HWC are largely driven by attitudes, tolerance, and behaviour of individuals underpinned by multiple factors. We propose that the SES approach improves our understanding of key social, economic and ecological factors, their interactions, and the feedback that either exacerbates or ameliorates HWC in contested landscapes. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
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spelling doaj-art-088b6463d41b4dc7a586e2e6eadac6dc2025-08-20T02:38:32ZengWileyPeople and Nature2575-83142024-12-01662602261710.1002/pan3.10740Social and ecological dimensions are needed to understand human‐wildlife conflict in subsistence farming contextYeshey0Rodney J. Keenan1Rebecca M. Ford2Craig R. Nitschke3School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences The University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria AustraliaSchool of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences The University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria AustraliaSchool of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences The University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria AustraliaSchool of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences The University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria AustraliaAbstract This study explores the social, economic and environmental dimensions of human‐wildlife conflict (HWC) in four districts of Bhutan. Looking beyond the common unidimensional approach to the evaluation of HWCs, it documents the multifaceted nature of HWCs through a social‐ecological system (SES) lens. We carried out a mixed method analysis of HWC based on 96 interviews consisting of qualitative and quantitative data and eight focus group discussions conducted in four districts representing four regions of Bhutan. Our case study finding reveals that HWC scenarios are complex and there is spatial variation in both social and ecological factors that contribute to HWC. In some areas, ecological aspects such as the composition and behaviour of wildlife species exacerbate the conflict, while in other regions the co‐occurrence of wildlife and livestock in the same ‘wild’ landscape drives HWC. The socio‐economic dimensions of HWC are largely driven by attitudes, tolerance, and behaviour of individuals underpinned by multiple factors. We propose that the SES approach improves our understanding of key social, economic and ecological factors, their interactions, and the feedback that either exacerbates or ameliorates HWC in contested landscapes. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10740attitudesbehaviourBuddhist beliefsgender and wealthhuman‐wildlife conflictsocio‐ecological system
spellingShingle Yeshey
Rodney J. Keenan
Rebecca M. Ford
Craig R. Nitschke
Social and ecological dimensions are needed to understand human‐wildlife conflict in subsistence farming context
People and Nature
attitudes
behaviour
Buddhist beliefs
gender and wealth
human‐wildlife conflict
socio‐ecological system
title Social and ecological dimensions are needed to understand human‐wildlife conflict in subsistence farming context
title_full Social and ecological dimensions are needed to understand human‐wildlife conflict in subsistence farming context
title_fullStr Social and ecological dimensions are needed to understand human‐wildlife conflict in subsistence farming context
title_full_unstemmed Social and ecological dimensions are needed to understand human‐wildlife conflict in subsistence farming context
title_short Social and ecological dimensions are needed to understand human‐wildlife conflict in subsistence farming context
title_sort social and ecological dimensions are needed to understand human wildlife conflict in subsistence farming context
topic attitudes
behaviour
Buddhist beliefs
gender and wealth
human‐wildlife conflict
socio‐ecological system
url https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10740
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AT rebeccamford socialandecologicaldimensionsareneededtounderstandhumanwildlifeconflictinsubsistencefarmingcontext
AT craigrnitschke socialandecologicaldimensionsareneededtounderstandhumanwildlifeconflictinsubsistencefarmingcontext