Social factors mediating human-carnivore coexistence: Understanding thematic strands influencing coexistence in Central Romania.

ABSTRACT: Facilitating human-carnivore coexistence depends on the biophysical environment but also on social factors. Focusing on Central Romania, we conducted 71 semi-structured interviews to explore human-bear (Ursus arctos) coexistence. Qualitative content and discourse analysis identified three socially mediated thematic strands, which showed different ways in which perceived interactions between people, bears and the environment shape coexistence. The "landscape-bear strand" described perceptions of the way in which the landscape offers resources for the bear, while the "landscape-human strand" related to ways in which humans experience the landscape. The "management strand" related to the way bears was managed. All three strands highlight both threats and opportunities for the peaceful coexist

SUBMITTER: Dorresteijn I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4824704 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature