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The Human Dimensions of Bison Conservation in a Changing West

The Human Dimensions of Bison Conservation in a Changing West. 2014 Pathways Conference Dr. Rebecca Garvoille. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •. The Contemporary Context for Bison Conservation. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •.

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The Human Dimensions of Bison Conservation in a Changing West

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  1. The Human Dimensions of Bison Conservation in a Changing West 2014 Pathways Conference Dr. Rebecca Garvoille • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

  2. The Contemporary Context for Bison Conservation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Why the Human Dimensions Matter • Plains bison are iconic symbols of the West, ecosystem engineers and cultural touchstones (Flores 2001, Soule et al. 2003, Zontek 2007, Freese et al. 2007) • Yet, plains bison remained imperiled as a wild species (Gates et al. 2010) • Looking forward, bison conservation is as much a social as an ecological issue in the changing West (Brechin et al. 2003, Clarke, Rutherford and Casey 2005, West, Igoe and Brockington 2006, Manfredo et al. 2009, Gates et al. 2010) • Thus, we need to know more about the social landscape for bison conservation, which is poorly understood. We especially need to understand how human communities across urban and rural sites and scales understand, value and experience bison in a changing West. These data are critical to developing socially-responsive and socially relevant bison conservation plans and campaigns.

  3. The New West = A Changing Social Region • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • From Cow Towns to Technology Companies and Amenity Migrants

  4. The New West = More Dynamic and Diverse Publics • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Courtesy of GoNorthwest.com Courtesy of New York Examiner (above) and meetup.com (below)

  5. Bison = Trans-boundary Stewardship Challenge in GYE • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

  6. Research Design • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Research Questions: • What are the attitudes and values of Yellowstone’s gateway communities towards wild bison? • How do attitudes and values differ across key gateway community subpopulations with a stake in wild bison management? • How do gateway community residents want to engage with public land managers about bison management? Research Methods • Compilation of Socio-Demographic Data to Prepare Community Profiles • In-Depth Interviews Across the Two Communities with: • Ranchers • Elected Officials • Residents • Business Owners • A Regional Survey

  7. American Icons in a Metropolitan Grassland: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Understanding People, Place and Bison Conservation in Denver, CO Research Objectives: Objective 1 – Provide foundational insights about Denverites’ awareness of and attitudes towards bison conservation (survey research) Objective 2 - Document how Denverites experience and value bison locally and more globally (survey and interview research) Objective 3 – Explore and understand what role bison play in shaping Denverites’ regional protected area experiences and place affinities (interview research).

  8. American Icons in a Metropolitan Grassland Rocky Mt./Great Plains • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Understanding People, Place and Bison Conservation in Denver, CO • Research Design • Research Methods: • Mail-back Household Surveys in Metro Denver (n = 1200) • Online DZ Membership Survey (n = 1200) • Structured Interviews w/ Protected Area Visitors • 4 Study Sites, 3 Conservation Herds: • Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR • Plains Conservation Center • City/County of Denver Mountain Parks

  9. The Applied Value of HD Science on Bison Conservation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Creates critically-needed knowledge about the complex relationships people have with bison across sites and scales; • Advances managers and conservation institutions’ understandings of the opportunities for and barriers to building a broader bison conservation constituency; and • Informs the design of more socially responsive and socially relevant public programs and reintroduction campaigns.

  10. THANK YOU! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Project Contact: • Dr. Rebecca Garvoille • Postdoctoral Fellow • Denver Zoo Conservation Biology • rgarvoille@denverzoo.org • 720-337-1676

  11. Overview • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The Context: Why Understanding the Human Dimensions of Bison Conservation in a Changing West Matters • The Science: • Project #1: Understanding the Attitudes and Values of Gateway Communities towards Wild Bison in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem • Project #2: American Icons in a Metropolitan Grassland – Exploring the Connections between People, Place and Bison Conservation in Denver, CO • The Applied Conservation Value of human dimensions science for bison managers, bison conservationists and conservation institutions such as Yellowstone National Park and Denver Zoo.

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