| Summary: | Peer Reviewed The importance of social insights in conservation is often underestimated by decision-making and is one of the main obstacles for the implementation of efficient management. Conservation conflicts occur when there exist social tensions due to restricted access to natural resources for conservation purposes, or economic losses generated by some wildlife species of conservation concern. Such conflicts are often highly complex and understanding the viewpoints of the variety stakeholders can be of great help for decision-making. Q-methodology, a framework that stands between qualitative and quantitative social research, providing precision and statistical robustness to explore human subjectivity, is increasingly used in this context. Here, we interviewed 64 farmers, employees of farming associations, conservationists, hunters and agents of the regional government to analyze their views on the problems associated with common vole (Microtus arvalis) outbreaks and their management in farmland areas of northwestern Spain. In this area, common voles invaded farmland lowlands in the last 30 years, since when they recurrently experience population outbreaks leading to significant crop damages. How vole outbreaks are managed, including through chemical and mechanical treatments of habitat, has deep conservation implications that are at the root of an important social conflict. Applying Q-methodology, we identified five main discourses about the vole issue. One discourse was built around blaming the position of conservationists and of the government as the root of the problem, minimizing the influence of farmers and the ecological implications of management. A second one focused in seeing the agricultural system as responsible for the vole presence, and on the ecological negative implications of current management. A third one placed emphasis on the communication and empathy limitations between stakeholders. Finally, one outlined that the issue is a matter of public concern that goes beyond agriculture, and ...
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