Public willingness to participate in actions for crow management
Natalija Špur A F , Boštjan Pokorny B C D and Andrej Šorgo A E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A University of Maribor, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Koroška cesta 160, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia.
B Environmental Protection College, Trg mladosti 7, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia.
C Institute ERICo, Koroška cesta 58, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia.
D Slovenian Forestry Institute, Večna pot 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
E University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Smetanova ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia.
F Corresponding author. Email: natalija.spur1@um.si
Wildlife Research 44(4) 343-353 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR17004
Submitted: 15 January 2017 Accepted: 26 May 2017 Published: 25 July 2017
Abstract
Context: Large-scale human modification of the environment has caused an overall loss of biodiversity; some species, such as crows, do benefit from these changes. Increased crow numbers in Slovenia in the past two decades have caused one of the main human–wildlife conflicts. To reduce these conflicts, successful and effective wildlife management is needed that is rooted in an evaluation of general public opinions and attitudes towards action.
Aims: The purpose of the present study was to identify factors that affect the willingness of the public to participate in actions for crow management. With knowledge about the factors that affect the willingness to participate in management actions, we can enhance public intention and behaviour.
Methods: A research model based on variables from a public survey was set up and tested with ordinal regression analysis.
Key results: The willingness to participate in crow management was influenced by (1) attitudes towards action, (2) interest in crows and conflicts in interaction with the moderator variables of education level or place of residence, (3) perceived behavioural control, (4) fear towards damage caused by crows, and (5) trust in experts in with the moderator variables of gender, education level, or utilitarian behaviour.
Conclusions: Public do not possess sufficient competences for crow management. With additional information and awareness, they could decide more clearly about their participation in management.
Implications: To increase the number of participants in actions, we need to educate the public about critical skills and competencies, provide explanations why some actions are effective and feasible, and convey the importance of public participation. With low confidence about their competences and low, or even no, trust in decision-makers, the willingness to participate was found to decrease.
Additional keywords: Corvus cornix, public participation, social survey.
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