The good bad wolf?wolf evaluation reveals the roots of the Finnish wolf conflict
Abstract This article focuses on the roots of the Finnish wolf conflict by using stakeholder evaluations of the wolf as a tool. The recent growth of the wolf population has highlighted stakeholders? contradictory objectives and revealed a conflict between the two main stakeholders, conservationists...
| Published in: | European Journal of Wildlife Research |
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| Language: | English |
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Springer-Verlag
2011
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/2262/53799 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-010-0374-0 |
| Summary: | Abstract This article focuses on the roots of the Finnish wolf conflict by using stakeholder evaluations of the wolf as a tool. The recent growth of the wolf population has highlighted stakeholders? contradictory objectives and revealed a conflict between the two main stakeholders, conservationists and hunters, in wolf management. The question of hunting emerges as the core of the conflict. The negative evaluation of the wolf by hunters reflects a competitive situation, which is typical of the historical development of wolf management in Finland. In areas with the most abundant wolf populations, hunters view the wolf most negatively. This study clearly demonstrates that the Finnish wolf conflict is rooted in the values of modern society and carries a long historical, practical and ecological background in which humans and wolves compete over resources, mainly the moose. The conflict between hunters and conservationists in wolf management is connected to the appreciation of moose as game and stems from competition between humans and wolves over their prey and the historical presence or absence of the wolf. jukka.bisi@metsa.fi (Bisi, Jukka) Metsahallitus, Natural Heritage Services - c/o Yrttikiventie 18 - 60720 - Tuomikyla - FINLAND (Bisi, Jukka) Department of Biology, University of Oulu - PO Box 3000 - 90540 - Oulu - FINLAND (Liukkonen, Tuija) Section of Biodiversity and Environmental Research, Department of Biology, University of Turku - 20014 - Turku - FINLAND (Mykra, Sakari) Section of Biodiversity and Environmental Research, Department of Biology, University of Turku - 20014 - Turku - FINLAND (Pohja-Mykra, Mari) Ruralia Institute, University of Helsinki - Kampusranta 9C - 60320 - Seinajoki - FINLAND (Kurki, Sami) FINLAND Registration: 2010-03-02 Received: 2009-04-06 Revised: 2010-01-22 Accepted: 2010-03-01 ePublished: 2010-03-25 |
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