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How worldview and personal values can shape conservation conflict – the case of captive-bred lions

Hiller, Christina, MacMillan, Douglas C. (2021) How worldview and personal values can shape conservation conflict – the case of captive-bred lions. Biological Conservation, 258 . Article Number 109151. ISSN 0006-3207. E-ISSN 1873-2917. (doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109151) (KAR id:108405)

Abstract

Conservation debates, fuelled by social media, are becoming increasingly polarised, especially where animal

conservation and welfare are concerned. This study reveals how the ‘evidence-based approach’ founded on scientific knowledge and consensus-building can be insufficient when addressing conflicts that are driven by deeply held and opposing belief systems about nature, wildlife and their exploitation. Using targeted semistructured interviews grounded in inductive approaches, we unveil core attitudes and viewpoints of captive lion breeders in South Africa and compare them to those of key-informants from science and governance arenas. Further, we demonstrate how the value-systems and worldviews of stakeholders influence their interpretations of scientific knowledge when assessing the conservation value of captive-bred lions. Since polarised conflicts are frequent in conservation, the insights of this study highlight the need to create a deeper understanding of the social-psychological perspective of all main stakeholders to prepare the foundation for solution-building processes and evidence-based decision-making.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109151
Uncontrolled keywords: conservation value; conservation psychology; conservation conflict; lion trade (Panthera leo); inductive research; complex problems
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Funders: University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
Depositing User: Tina Hiller
Date Deposited: 13 Jan 2025 09:21 UTC
Last Modified: 29 Jan 2025 03:51 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/108405 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Hiller, Christina.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6730-4613
CReDIT Contributor Roles: Methodology (Lead), Visualisation (Lead), Formal analysis (Lead), Data curation (Lead), Writing - review and editing (Lead), Validation (Lead), Writing - original draft (Lead), Conceptualisation (Lead)

MacMillan, Douglas C..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2573-5049
CReDIT Contributor Roles: Methodology (Supporting), Supervision (Lead), Conceptualisation (Supporting), Formal analysis (Supporting), Writing - review and editing (Equal)
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