Cost of Coexisting with a Relict Large Carnivore Population: Impact of Apennine Brown Bears, 2005–2015

Human-carnivore conflicts are a major conservation issue. As bears are expanding their range in Europe’s human-modified landscapes, it is increasingly important to understand, prevent, and address human-bear conflicts and evaluate mitigation strategies in areas of historical coexistence. Based on verified claims, we assessed costs, patterns, and drivers of bear damages in the relict Apennine brown bear population in the Abruzzo Lazio and Molise National Park (PNALM), central Italy. During 2005–2015, 203 ± 71 (SD) damage events were verified annually, equivalent to 75,987 ± 30,038 €/year paid for compensation. Most damages occurred in summer and fall, with livestock depredation, especially sheep and cattle calves, prevailing over other types of damages, with apiaries ranking second in costs of compensation. Transhumant livestock owners were less impacted than residential ones, and farms that adopted prevention measures loaned from the PNALM were less susceptible to bear damages. Livestock farms chronically damaged by bears represented 8 ± 3% of those annually impacted, corresponding to 24 ± 6% of compensation costs. Further improvements in the conflict mitigation policy adopted by the PNALM include integrated prevention, conditional compensation, and participatory processes. We discuss the implications of our study for Human-bear coexistence in broader contexts.

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Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Impacts Community Perceptions around Kibale National Park, Uganda

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d13040145 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 145

Author(s):

Lev Kolinski ◽

Krista M. Milich

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Kibale National Park ◽

Crop Damage ◽

Community Members ◽

Papio Anubis ◽

Wildlife Conflict ◽

The Impact ◽

Human Wildlife Conflict ◽

Conflict Mitigation

The attitudes of community members living around protected areas are an important and often overlooked consideration for effective conservation strategies. Around Kibale National Park (KNP) in western Uganda, communities regularly face the threat of crop destruction from wildlife, including from a variety of endangered species, such as African elephants (Loxodonta africana), common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), and red colobus monkeys (Piliocolobus tephrosceles), as well as other nonhuman primates, including olive baboons (Papio anubis). These frequent negative interactions with wildlife lead many community members to resent the park and the animals that live within it. To mitigate these issues, community members around KNP partnered with researchers to start a participatory action research project to reduce human-wildlife interactions. The project tested four sustainable human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies: digging and maintaining trenches around the park border, installing beehive fences in swampy areas where trenches could not be dug, planting tea as a buffer, and growing garlic as a cash crop. These physical exclusion methods and agriculture-based deterrents aimed to reduce crop destruction by wild animals and improve conditions for humans and wildlife alike. We conducted oral surveys with members of participating communities and a nonparticipating community that border KNP to determine the impact of these sustainable human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies on attitudes toward KNP, wildlife officials, and animal species in and around KNP. We found that there is a positive correlation between participation in the project and perceived benefits of living near KNP. We also found that respondents who participated in the project reported more positive feelings about the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the organization that oversees KNP. This research will help inform future conservation initiatives around KNP and other areas where humans and animals face conflict through crop damage.

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Organizational champions and their 'magic secrets': Transforming implicit conflict mitigation strategies

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e734282011-060 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Kimberly Rogers

Keyword(s):

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Conflict Mitigation

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Visual Search and Conflict Mitigation Strategies Used by Expert en Route Air Traffic Controllers

Aerospace ◽

10.3390/aerospace8070170 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 170

Author(s):

Ricardo Palma Fraga ◽

Ziho Kang ◽

Jerry M. Crutchfield ◽

Saptarshi Mandal

Keyword(s):

Visual Search ◽

Traffic Control ◽

Air Traffic Control ◽

Relevant Information ◽

Air Traffic ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Air Traffic Controllers ◽

Search Patterns ◽

Potential Applications ◽

Conflict Mitigation

The role of the en route air traffic control specialist (ATCS) is vital to maintaining safety and efficiency within the National Airspace System (NAS). ATCSs must vigilantly scan the airspace under their control and adjacent airspaces using an En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) radar display. The intent of this research is to provide an understanding of the expert controller visual search and aircraft conflict mitigation strategies that could be used as scaffolding methods during ATCS training. Interviews and experiments were conducted to elicit visual scanning and conflict mitigation strategies from the retired controllers who were employed as air traffic control instructors. The interview results were characterized and classified using various heuristics. In particular, representative visual scanpaths were identified, which accord with the interview results of the visual search strategies. The highlights of our findings include: (1) participants used systematic search patterns, such as circular, spiral, linear or quadrant-based, to extract operation-relevant information; (2) participants applied an information hierarchy when aircraft information was cognitively processed (altitude -> direction -> speed); (3) altitude or direction changes were generally preferred over speed changes when imminent potential conflicts were mitigated. Potential applications exist in the implementation of the findings into the training curriculum of candidates.

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Pixel- vs. Object-Based Landsat 8 Data Classification in Google Earth Engine Using Random Forest: The Case Study of Maiella National Park

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13122299 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 2299

Author(s):

Andrea Tassi ◽

Daniela Gigante ◽

Giuseppe Modica ◽

Luciano Di Martino ◽

Marco Vizzari

Keyword(s):

Land Cover ◽

National Park ◽

Time Window ◽

Central Italy ◽

Google Earth ◽

Data Cube ◽

Landsat 8 ◽

Change Analysis ◽

Object Based ◽

Google Earth Engine

With the general objective of producing a 2018–2020 Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) map of the Maiella National Park (central Italy), useful for a future long-term LULC change analysis, this research aimed to develop a Landsat 8 (L8) data composition and classification process using Google Earth Engine (GEE). In this process, we compared two pixel-based (PB) and two object-based (OB) approaches, assessing the advantages of integrating the textural information in the PB approach. Moreover, we tested the possibility of using the L8 panchromatic band to improve the segmentation step and the object’s textural analysis of the OB approach and produce a 15-m resolution LULC map. After selecting the best time window of the year to compose the base data cube, we applied a cloud-filtering and a topography-correction process on the 32 available L8 surface reflectance images. On this basis, we calculated five spectral indices, some of them on an interannual basis, to account for vegetation seasonality. We added an elevation, an aspect, a slope layer, and the 2018 CORINE Land Cover classification layer to improve the available information. We applied the Gray-Level Co-Occurrence Matrix (GLCM) algorithm to calculate the image’s textural information and, in the OB approaches, the Simple Non-Iterative Clustering (SNIC) algorithm for the image segmentation step. We performed an initial RF optimization process finding the optimal number of decision trees through out-of-bag error analysis. We randomly distributed 1200 ground truth points and used 70% to train the RF classifier and 30% for the validation phase. This subdivision was randomly and recursively redefined to evaluate the performance of the tested approaches more robustly. The OB approaches performed better than the PB ones when using the 15 m L8 panchromatic band, while the addition of textural information did not improve the PB approach. Using the panchromatic band within an OB approach, we produced a detailed, 15-m resolution LULC map of the study area.

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Research Progress of Desertification and Its Prevention in Mongolia

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13126861 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 6861

Author(s):

Xiya Liang ◽

Pengfei Li ◽

Juanle Wang ◽

Faith Ka Shun Chan ◽

Chuluun Togtokh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Model Development ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Research Progress ◽

Prevention Measures ◽

Interdisciplinary Approaches ◽

The World ◽

Impacting Factors ◽

Decoupling Analysis ◽

And Control ◽

The Relationship

Mongolia is a globally crucial region that has been suffering from land desertification. However, current understanding on Mongolia’s desertification is limited, constraining the desertification control and sustainable development in Mongolia and even other parts of the world. This paper studied spatiotemporal patterns, driving factors, mitigation strategies, and research methods of desertification in Mongolia through an extensive review of literature. Results showed that: (i) remote sensing monitoring of desertification in Mongolia has been subject to a relatively low spatial resolution and considerable time delay, and thus high-resolution and timely data are needed to perform a more precise and timely study; (ii) the contribution of desertification impacting factors has not been quantitatively assessed, and a decoupling analysis is desirable to quantify the contribution of factors in different regions of Mongolia; (iii) existing desertification prevention measures should be strengthened in the future. In particular, the relationship between grassland changes and husbandry development needs to be considered during the development of desertification prevention measures; (iv) the multi-method study (particularly interdisciplinary approaches) and desertification model development should be enhanced to facilitate an in-depth desertification research in Mongolia. This study provides a useful reference for desertification research and control in Mongolia and other regions of the world.

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Brown Bear Mortality in Central Italy from 1970 to 1984

Bears Their Biology and Management ◽

10.2307/3872614 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 97 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Giorgio Boscagli

Keyword(s):

Central Italy ◽

Brown Bear

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Mitigation Policy Acceptance Model: An Analysis of Individual Decision Making Process toward Residential Seismic Strengthening

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15091883 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (9) ◽

pp. 1883 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hao-Teng Cheng ◽

Ko-Wan Tsou

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Behavioral Intention ◽

Risk Mitigation ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Decision Making Process ◽

Mitigation Policy ◽

Seismic Strengthening ◽

Risky Decision ◽

The Government ◽

Acceptance Model

Mitigation policy is regarded as an effective strategy to achieve the purpose of building health resilience and reducing disaster risk with the current high frequency of environmental event occurrences. To enhance public acceptance of mitigation policy, the issue of decision-making behavior has been a concern of researchers and planners. In the past literature, qualitative measures employed to reveal the behavioral intention of hazard risk mitigation cause restricted outcomes due to the problem of sample representativeness and the fact that quantitative research is restricted to discuss the linear relationship between the two selected variables. The purpose of this article is to attempt to construct a Mitigation Policy Acceptance Model (MPAM) to analyze the behavioral intention of seismic risk mitigation strategies. Based on Dual Processing Theory, affective is conducted as the core variable for constructing two types of thinking processes, and the variables of risk perception, trust and responsibility are selected in MPAM from theories and past research. In this study, the mitigation policy of residential seismic strengthening, adapted in Yongkang District of Tainan, has been conducted as the case study. According to the results, the result of model fit test has confirmed the MPAM framework, and two thinking modes could be associated together when people face a risky decision-making process. The variable of affective is the most effective factor to influence each variable, and a direct effect on intention is also shown in this model. The results could provide suggestions in communication risk strategies for the government.

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Alyssum desertorum Stapf (Brassicaceae), new for the Italian flora

Acta Botanica Croatica ◽

10.1515/botcro-2016-0006 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 75 (1) ◽

pp. 149-152 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Fabrizio Bartolucci ◽

Fabio Conti

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Central Italy ◽

The Other ◽

Italian Flora ◽

Surrounding Areas ◽

First Time

Abstract The occurrence of Alyssum desertorum, a species belonging to A. sect. Alyssum, is reported for the first time in Italy. It was found in Abruzzo (central Italy) in the territory of National Park of Gran Sasso and Laga mountains and surrounding areas. Morphological similarities with the other taxa recorded in Italy belonging to A. sect. Alyssum are briefly discussed. Information about the typification of the name, habitat, phenology and distribution in Italy are also provided.

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Factors Affecting Zoo Visitors’ Conservation Beliefs and Knowledge of Large Carnivores in 2009 and a Dozen Years Later

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su14020890 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 890

Author(s):

Vesna Oražem ◽

Aleksandra Majić Skrbinšek ◽

Andrej Šorgo ◽

Iztok Tomažič

Keyword(s):

Brown Bear ◽

Eurasian Lynx ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Large Carnivore ◽

Gender Influence ◽

Carnivore Species ◽

Conservation Actions ◽

Species Specific ◽

Gender Factor ◽

Learning Institutions

Teaching in a formal learning environment mainly focuses on gaining knowledge, and scarcely on the development of pro-environmental attitudes. Knowledge can also be gained in informal learning institutions, such as zoos, and their potential use in general public education should not be neglected. This paper explores factors influencing the conservation beliefs of zoo visitors about brown bears, grey wolves, and Eurasian lynx. The study undertaken in Zoo Ljubljana (Slovenia) consisted of surveys performed in 2009 (n = 613) and in 2021 (n = 257). The levels of knowledge and education influenced both supporting and opposing beliefs about the three large carnivore species. The gender factor was less uniform: both supporting and opposing beliefs about lynx were demonstrated, but only opposing beliefs about brown bear and wolf. The study indicates that knowledge has the most significant influence on conservation beliefs, thus highlighting the importance of educational and communication activities in management and conservation actions regarding large carnivore species. The varied gender influence suggests that species-specific educational activities should be encouraged.

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