Over the past few years, the wolf population has increased and spread to new areas in Finland. These developments have highlighted people’s conflicting attitudes to wolves and the different objectives for managing the wolf population. The wolf debate has been particularly heated in eastern Finland, where the wolf population and its growth are mainly concentrated. The supranational conservation objectives imposed by Finland’s membership of the EU and the practical application of policy on wolves at regional level have led to conflict.
The aim of this study is to identify the objectives and expectations related to the growth in the wolf population, to examine their regional and national differences, to position the various interest groups in relation to the objectives and, in particular, to present the views of those who live in the areas where wolves occur and who interact with them. This was thought important, because it was assumed that the attitudes of these people are a determining factor in the successful management of the wolf population.
This study is qualitative in nature, and two main methods were used to collect its data. At regional level, all the key actors involved in wildlife, the use of nature and the monitoring of that use (generally referred to as stakeholders here) were asked to complete a written questionnaire on wolves. An estimated 1,000 people representing various interest groups were asked for their views. A forum for debate was also organised with these actors in each of the 15 game management districts. There their replies were heard and debated with the aim of fostering cooperation. The same process also took place with similar agencies at national level. In addition, 30 public hearings were held in collaboration with the Game Management Districts; each of these was attended by about 1,600 people, there to discus wolves and the management of wolf populations. The meetings were recorded, the recordings were transcribed and the transcriptions were classified according to their contents, which were then analysed. There were some 2,000 such contributions at the hearings.
Attitudes towards wolves are generally negative and the wolf is seen essentially as a problem. Fear of wolves is common, and its roots may be attributed to such phenomena as wolves eating humans in the 19th century and related stories and myths about them. Fear of wolves provokes more discussion in western and southern Finland than in northern Finland. Wolves are believed to cause serious problems for reindeer husbandry, cattle and sheep farming and the use of hunting dogs. It is not only the damage which occurs which is thought to be a problem: the protection of animals, the prevention of damage and the constant concern for the safety of animals also influence attitudes.
The study identified some conflicts between different agencies and different regions concerning objectives for managing the wolf population. Most of the respondents and local people feel that the wolf population in eastern Finland has grown too large. At national level, many would like to see the wolf population included among those species which are hunted in a regulated way with licences and the social impact of population growth taken into consideration in the management of the population. Those involved in hunting with dogs and reindeer husbandry are the most vociferous in their demands to reduce the wolf population and they also have the most negative attitudes towards wolves. In contrast to the other agencies, many conservationists and environmental authorities aim to expand the wolf population and find it difficult to accept hunting as a means of managing the population. These agencies see increased levels of knowledge and awareness-raising as the main way to maintain interaction between man and wolf, and they stress the importance of ecological sustainability. However, there is some conflict of opinion among conservationists.
The tolerance of the local population in some parts of eastern Finland has been stretched beyond breaking point. People living in areas where wolves occur feel that they can no longer influence decision-making which affects them and that the authorities, conservationists and the EU do not listen to what they have to say. Almost all respondents would like the wolf population to be more evenly distributed across the country, but those who dwell in the countryside outside eastern Finland are not keen to accommodate a growing wolf population. The difficulties of reconciling reindeer husbandry farming with wolf management are also generally recognised. Those most willing to expand the wolf population are from southernmost Finland.
There are markedly conflicting expectations from the national game authority, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Game Management Districts. Under immense pressure, the Ministry implemented a wolf policy which has been criticised by almost everyone. Likewise, the research into wolves conducted by the Game and Fisheries Research Institute has been hampered by conflicting objectives. The lack of trust between the various agencies is hindering efforts.
If consensus is to be reached on the issue of wolves there will need to be willingness on the part of the various agencies to compromise on their objectives. There has also been a number of calls for changes to legislation and its interpretation, concessions to which would promote consensus and tolerance with respect to wolves. They include reforming the system of compensation for damage and a clearer interpretation of the conservation status of wolves.
However, it seems unlikely that a policy on wolves could be established that would be endorsed by everyone. The range of interpretations made possible by the EU’s species-specific legislation on conservation is in itself a major source of conflict. For example, the concepts of favourable conservation status and social sustainability are interpreted by each agency according to its own interests. Given the nature of wolves and the fears associated with them, there needs to be consensus on the management of the wolf population. As this issue is currently a bone of contention in the area of environmental policy, the conservation of wolves and the management of their populations are being made more difficult and this is also harming cooperation between various stakeholders
