Managing the Conflict of Human–Wildlife Coexistence: A Community-Based Approach

Stilianos Tampakis, Veronika Andrea, Thomas Panagopoulos (), Paraskevi Karanikola, Rallou Gkarmiri and Theodora Georgoula
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Stilianos Tampakis: School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Veronika Andrea: Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, School of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Ath., Pantazidou 193, 68200 Orestiada, Greece
Thomas Panagopoulos: Research Centre of Tourism Sustainability and Well-Being, Campus de Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Paraskevi Karanikola: Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, School of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Ath., Pantazidou 193, 68200 Orestiada, Greece
Rallou Gkarmiri: School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Theodora Georgoula: School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-23

Abstract: One of the most recent and pressing issues for policymakers to address is the presence of wild boars in urban and rural areas. Their aggressive spread and invasion of human-populated areas have created an alarming problem as the coexistence of wild boars and people poses serious threats to human life and property. Human-caused factors, such as residential zone expansion and land use change, have exacerbated this problem. Furthermore, natural factors, such as predator reduction and climate change effects, create favorable conditions for population growth. This study sought to gain insights into citizens’ perspectives on a current issue, specifically wild boar colonization and coexistence in urban and rural settings. Between September 2021 and November 2022, a survey was conducted in two communities of northern and central Greece, addressing 800 citizens in total. Obtained through hierarchical log-linear analysis, factor analysis and two-step cluster analysis, the findings indicate that rural citizens appear to be more concerned about agricultural production losses and the high risk of road accidents, while the invasion-level perception was high in both areas. Intensive hunting has gained widespread acceptance as a management tool for wild boar populations in both urban and rural areas, while anthropocentric (EGO) and ecocentric (ECO) social groups have emerged.

Keywords: Sus scrofa; wildlife; colonization; hybridization; decision making; hunting policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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