Predicting intention to hunt protected wildlife: a case study of Bewick's swan in the European Russian Arctic
Abstract Illegal killing of wildlife is a major conservation issue that, to be addressed effectively, requires insight into the drivers of human behaviour. Here we adapt an established socio-psychological model, the theory of planned behaviour, to explore reasons for hunting the Endangered Bewick...
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2021
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605320000435 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0030605320000435 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0030605320000435 2024-09-15T18:03:25+00:00 Predicting intention to hunt protected wildlife: a case study of Bewick's swan in the European Russian Arctic Newth, Julia L. McDonald, Robbie A. Wood, Kevin A. Rees, Eileen C. Semenov, Igor Chistyakov, Anton Mikhaylova, Galina Bearhop, Stuart Cromie, Ruth L. Belousova, Anna Glazov, Petr Nuno, Ana The Peter Smith Charitable Trust for Nature Olive Herbert Charitable Trust 2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605320000435 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0030605320000435 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Oryx volume 56, issue 2, page 228-240 ISSN 0030-6053 1365-3008 journal-article 2021 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605320000435 2024-09-04T04:04:35Z Abstract Illegal killing of wildlife is a major conservation issue that, to be addressed effectively, requires insight into the drivers of human behaviour. Here we adapt an established socio-psychological model, the theory of planned behaviour, to explore reasons for hunting the Endangered Bewick's swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii in the European Russian Arctic, using responses from hunters to a questionnaire survey. Wider ecological, legal, recreational and economic motivations were also explored. Of 236 hunters who participated overall, 14% harboured intentions to hunt Bewick's swan. Behavioural intention was predicted by all components of the theory of planned behaviour, specifically: hunters' attitude towards the behaviour, perceived behavioural control (i.e. perceived capability of being able to perform the behaviour) and their subjective norms (perception of social expectations). The inclusion of attitude towards protective laws and descriptive norm (perception of whether other people perform the behaviour) increased the model's predictive power. Understanding attitudes towards protective laws can help guide the design of conservation measures that reduce non-compliance. We conclude that conservation interventions should target the socio-psychological conditions that influence hunters' attitudes, social norms and perceived behavioural control. These may include activities that build trust, encourage support for conservation, generate social pressure against poaching, use motivations to prompt change and strengthen peoples' confidence to act. This approach could be applied to inform the effective design, prioritization and targeting of interventions that improve compliance and reduce the illegal killing of wildlife. Article in Journal/Newspaper Cygnus columbianus Cambridge University Press Oryx 1 13 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Illegal killing of wildlife is a major conservation issue that, to be addressed effectively, requires insight into the drivers of human behaviour. Here we adapt an established socio-psychological model, the theory of planned behaviour, to explore reasons for hunting the Endangered Bewick's swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii in the European Russian Arctic, using responses from hunters to a questionnaire survey. Wider ecological, legal, recreational and economic motivations were also explored. Of 236 hunters who participated overall, 14% harboured intentions to hunt Bewick's swan. Behavioural intention was predicted by all components of the theory of planned behaviour, specifically: hunters' attitude towards the behaviour, perceived behavioural control (i.e. perceived capability of being able to perform the behaviour) and their subjective norms (perception of social expectations). The inclusion of attitude towards protective laws and descriptive norm (perception of whether other people perform the behaviour) increased the model's predictive power. Understanding attitudes towards protective laws can help guide the design of conservation measures that reduce non-compliance. We conclude that conservation interventions should target the socio-psychological conditions that influence hunters' attitudes, social norms and perceived behavioural control. These may include activities that build trust, encourage support for conservation, generate social pressure against poaching, use motivations to prompt change and strengthen peoples' confidence to act. This approach could be applied to inform the effective design, prioritization and targeting of interventions that improve compliance and reduce the illegal killing of wildlife. |
author2 |
The Peter Smith Charitable Trust for Nature Olive Herbert Charitable Trust |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Newth, Julia L. McDonald, Robbie A. Wood, Kevin A. Rees, Eileen C. Semenov, Igor Chistyakov, Anton Mikhaylova, Galina Bearhop, Stuart Cromie, Ruth L. Belousova, Anna Glazov, Petr Nuno, Ana |
spellingShingle |
Newth, Julia L. McDonald, Robbie A. Wood, Kevin A. Rees, Eileen C. Semenov, Igor Chistyakov, Anton Mikhaylova, Galina Bearhop, Stuart Cromie, Ruth L. Belousova, Anna Glazov, Petr Nuno, Ana Predicting intention to hunt protected wildlife: a case study of Bewick's swan in the European Russian Arctic |
author_facet |
Newth, Julia L. McDonald, Robbie A. Wood, Kevin A. Rees, Eileen C. Semenov, Igor Chistyakov, Anton Mikhaylova, Galina Bearhop, Stuart Cromie, Ruth L. Belousova, Anna Glazov, Petr Nuno, Ana |
author_sort |
Newth, Julia L. |
title |
Predicting intention to hunt protected wildlife: a case study of Bewick's swan in the European Russian Arctic |
title_short |
Predicting intention to hunt protected wildlife: a case study of Bewick's swan in the European Russian Arctic |
title_full |
Predicting intention to hunt protected wildlife: a case study of Bewick's swan in the European Russian Arctic |
title_fullStr |
Predicting intention to hunt protected wildlife: a case study of Bewick's swan in the European Russian Arctic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Predicting intention to hunt protected wildlife: a case study of Bewick's swan in the European Russian Arctic |
title_sort |
predicting intention to hunt protected wildlife: a case study of bewick's swan in the european russian arctic |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605320000435 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0030605320000435 |
genre |
Cygnus columbianus |
genre_facet |
Cygnus columbianus |
op_source |
Oryx volume 56, issue 2, page 228-240 ISSN 0030-6053 1365-3008 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605320000435 |
container_title |
Oryx |
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1 |
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13 |
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1810440913182261248 |