Value diversity and conservation conflict: Lessons from the management of red grouse and hen harriers in England

• Published in: People and Nature
• Main Authors: St John, Freya A. V., Steadman, Janna, Austen, Gail, Redpath, Steve M.
• Other Authors: Gibbs, Leah, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2018
• Subjects: Circus cyaneus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pan3.5; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fpan3.5; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/pan3.5; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/pan3.5; https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/pan3.5

Abstract Conflicts between people over wildlife management are damaging, widespread, and notoriously difficult to resolve where people hold different values and worldviews. Cognitive approaches examining steps from human thought to action can help us understand conflict and explore strategies for their management. We focused on the conflict between hunters and conservationists over the management of red grouse ( Lagopus lagopus scoticus ) and hen harriers ( Circus cyaneus ) in the English uplands which represents a classic, persistent conflict, where human dimensions are poorly understood. Guided by conceptual frameworks from social and environmental psychology, we conducted a questionnaire‐based study to assess wildlife value orientations of key stakeholders. We quantified attitudes towards hen harriers, grouse shooting, gamekeepers, and raptor conservationists. We also measured support/opposition for harrier management strategies in England and investigated trust in the responsible government authority. We present data from 536 respondents from field sport or nature conservation organizations. Respondents were categorized according to the primary objectives of their affiliated organization: Field sport (i.e., hunters), Non‐raptor, Pro‐raptor, and Pro‐bird (i.e., organizations promoting conservation of birds excluding raptors, raptors specifically, or birds generally). Utilitarian value orientations were prominent among Field sport and Non‐raptor respondents. Most Pro‐raptor and Pro‐bird participants held mutualist value orientations, indicating they did not support shooting or management of wildlife. As suggested by the cognitive hierarchy, we found strong correlations between attitude and support for management options, our proxy for behaviour. Pro‐bird affiliates showed clear preference for less invasive management, and along with Pro‐raptor respondents did not support brood management (removal and later release of eggs/young when harrier density is high). Field sport individuals expressed a degree of ...