Acceptability of Lethal Control of Wildlife that Damage Agriculture in the Netherlands

The use of lethal control of wildlife is controversial. We examined the acceptability of using lethal control to minimize the impacts of geese and deer on agricultural crops in the Netherlands. Two sets of predictors were examined: wildlife value orientations (WVOs) and demographics. The two wildlife value orientations—domination and mutualism—were based on prior theorizing and research in the United States. Demographic variables included age, gender, education, and current residence. We used data from a mailed survey (n = 353) sent to randomly selected individuals in the Netherlands. We examined six separate logistic regression models. As predicted, only the value orientations were statistically significant, accounting for 39% (geese) and 37% (deer) of the variance. Of the two WVOs, domination was a better predictor of acceptability ratings than mutualism. Results suggest that WVOs have predictive validity outside the United States

Toward a mental systems approach to human relationships with wildlife: the role of emotional dispositions

Emotions toward wildlife are basic and important determinants of relationships with wildlife. Addressing emotional dispositions—criteria against which the emotional relevance of objects or situations is appraised—could foster the study of emotions toward wildlife in connection with cognitions. This article reviews various approaches to the study of emotions, gives an account of the working of emotions, and discusses the nature and properties of emotional dispositions. Emotional dispositions are relatively stable traits. Research has identified a limited set of general emotional dispositions that are employed to judge situations (including situations involving wildlife): (a) novelty, (b) valence, (c) conduciveness to goals, (d) agency, and (e) compatibility with standards. Emotional dispositions toward various species of wildlife can be innate or learned. It is largely unknown which emotional dispositions humans have toward which species; answering this question should be a primary topic for future researc

Predictive potential of wildlife value orientations for acceptability of management interventions

tWildlife value orientations are patterns of basic beliefs that give direction and meaning to fundamentalvalues in the context of wildlife. Wildlife value orientations can help managers estimate public eval-uations to management interventions. Their usefulness, both practically and scientifically, depends ontheir predictive potential. This article examined the predictive value of wildlife value orientations on theacceptability of wildlife management interventions in different situations. The situations varied in (a)severity of the human wildlife problem and (b) severity of the interventions for wildlife. Two wildlifevalue orientations were measured: domination (human needs have priority over wildlife well-being, 10items) and mutualism (rights are assigned to wildlife, 9 items). Acceptability was measured as a dichoto-mous variable for management interventions across 5 different situations. The predictive value of wildlifevalue orientations was largest for acceptability of the most severe interventions (hunting, 35–42% of vari-ance explained), followed by the least severe interventions (doing nothing, 5–17%) and the intermediateinterventions (shaking eggs or applying contraceptives, 1–9%) in the scenarios that include a problemfor humans. Value priorities appear to be an integral feature of value orientations. Intermediate inter-ventions do not harm wildlife, but might solve the problem caused by wildlife. Such interventions alsocreate minimal small internal value conflicts. Orientations that prioritize values and offer a template forconflict resolution are likely to have less predictive potential for these interventions

Publieke acceptatie van beheermaatregelen voor wilde dieren

Maatregelen voor wildbeheer leiden geregeld tot maatschappelijk debat. Kennis over de publieke perceptie is daarmee relevant voor beheerders en beleidsmakers. In dit artikel worden de resultaten gepresenteerd van een onderzoek naar de acceptatie van maatregelen voor wildbeheer en de samenhang tusssen deze acceptatie en dieperliggende denkbeelden over wild en wildbeheer

Wildlife value orientations and demographics in The Netherlands

This article identified the Dutch publics’ value orientations toward wildlife and examined differences in value orientations among four demographic characteristics: age, sex, current residence, and education. The two wildlife value orientations—domination and mutualism—were based on prior theorizing and research in the USA. People with a domination value orientation believe wildlife should be managed for human benefit and are more likely to prioritize human well-being over wildlife in their attitudes and behaviors. Individuals with a mutualism orientation view wildlife as part of an extended family, deserving of rights and care. Data were obtained from a mailed survey (n¿=¿353) sent to randomly selected individuals in the Dutch population. K-means cluster analysis was used to segment respondents into three groups based on their responses to the 19 items used to measure their wildlife value orientations. As predicted by the literature, those with a domination wildlife value orientation were statistically older (M¿=¿55.2) than mutualism oriented individuals (M¿=¿51.5). Females (61%) and those living in an urban area (48%) tended to be more mutualism-oriented. There were no significant differences among the clusters in education level. Overall, this article provides information about wildlife value orientations and public demographic characteristics that can help wildlife managers to (1) understand the diversity of value orientations that exist and (2) gauge support for or opposition to management policie

Toerisme in en rond Nationaal Park De Hoge Veluwe: een kwestie van duurzame ontwikkeling?

Dit artikel analyseert de mate waarin vier duurzaamheidsdimensies (sociaal-cultureel, economisch, ecologisch, institutioneel) bijdragen in het voorspellen van de tevredenheid van bewoners met toerisme in en rond De Hoge Veluwe. De gegevens zijn verzameld uit de drie dorpen: Hoenderloo, Otterloo en Schaarsbergen. De uitkomsten bevestigen het beeld dat alle vier dimensies een belangrijke rol spelen bij de boeoordeling van toerisme door bewoner

Human Dimensions of Widllife

This chapter briefly discusses a descriptive typology of attitudes towards wildlife that was quite influential in the pioneering years of research on human dimensions of wildlife. It describes a more recent theory‐driven approach to understanding human relationships with wildlife, guided by the cognitive hierarchy. The theory of cognitive hierarchy stresses that individual behaviour is guided by a hierarchy of interrelated cognitions including values, value orientations, attitudes and norms, and behavioural intentions. Studies using the wildlife value orientation scales suggest that domination orientations are deeply engrained in the cultural transmission process and endure over generations. The usefulness of studying wildlife value orientations depends on the concept's predictive validity. The cognitive hierarchy does not explicitly consider emotions. The concepts and measurements may reflect emotional content, but they are not intended to directly capture emotional dispositions or responses. Future research on human dimensions of wildlife may benefit from the study of both cognitive and emotional responses to wildlife.Environmental PsychologyEnvironmental Psychology: An Introduction, Second Edition<br/