A glimpse of the long view: Human attitudes to an established population of Eurasian beaver ( castor fiber ) in the lowlands of south-east England

Journal article

Oliveira, Sara, Buckley, Phil and Consorte-McCrea, Adriana 2023. A glimpse of the long view: Human attitudes to an established population of Eurasian beaver ( castor fiber ) in the lowlands of south-east England. Frontiers in Conservation Science. 3, p. 925594. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2022.925594
AuthorsOliveira, Sara, Buckley, Phil and Consorte-McCrea, Adriana
AbstractIntroduction: The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is a native species to Britain that after being absent for 400 years has been restored to the English countryside. The first beavers were released into a reserve in Kent in 2001/02, making this one of the first beaver release areas in the UK. This paper examines attitudes towards beaver presence in the landscape as well as public perception of beaver benefits and impacts with respect to the environment and human society. Methods: Qualitative questionnaires were utilised to investigate factors influencing social attitudes and support for beaver reintroduction, as well as the relationship between sociodemographic variables and attitudes. Inhabitants of Kent and its immediate surroundings were surveyed during June and July of 2020 (n=407) with a focus on three interest groups – environmentalists, farmers and the general public. Results: Perceptions included mostly beneficial impacts on nature and biodiversity, whereas less positive impacts were associated with economics, agriculture and fisheries. In general, local attitudes towards beavers were positive, mainly sustained by feelings of liking this wildlife species and valuing their presence. People´s attitudes positively influence willingness to support the reintroduction of beavers. Twenty years after their initial release, results indicate broad support for the beaver reintroduction in Kent and people´s tolerance of beavers. The majority of respondents were in favour of nonintrusive management techniques to mitigate beavers’ undesirable impacts. Discussion: These findings suggest the need to develop an optimal management strategy that incorporates public views and gives advice on the best approach to manage this wildlife species. This research provides theoretical and practical underpinning for beaver management and conservation in Britain.
KeywordsConservation science; Wildlife management; Human-wildlife interactions; Human dimensions; Conservation translocation; Reintroduction; Rewilding; Kent
Year2023
JournalFrontiers in Conservation Science
Journal citation3, p. 925594
PublisherFrontiers
ISSN2673-611X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2022.925594
Official URLhttps://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2022.925594/full
Publication dates
Online04 Jan 2023
Publication process dates
Accepted08 Dec 2022
Deposited19 Jan 2023
Publisher's version
License
Output statusPublished
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/939q5/a-glimpse-of-the-long-view-human-attitudes-to-an-established-population-of-eurasian-beaver-castor-fiber-in-the-lowlands-of-south-east-england

Download files

Publisher's version
fcosc-03-925594.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0

  • 262
    total views
  • 124
    total downloads
  • 5
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

30 years of ecopedagogy: Origin and reinvention
Dickmann, I. and Consorte-McCrea, A. 2024. 30 years of ecopedagogy: Origin and reinvention.
Ponto-Caspian amphipod co-location with zebra mussel beds (Dreissena polymorpha) is influenced by substrate size and population source
Buckley, P. and Sanders, C. 2024. Ponto-Caspian amphipod co-location with zebra mussel beds (Dreissena polymorpha) is influenced by substrate size and population source. Hydrobiologia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-024-05515-4
The return of a cultural icon to Kent: attitudes towards the red-billed chough​
Consorte-McCrea, A., Franz, A. and Bainbridge, A. 2023. The return of a cultural icon to Kent: attitudes towards the red-billed chough​.
Human-wildlife interactions in conservation translocations: Developing guidelines
Consorte-McCrea, A., Waters, S. and Whiley, F. 2023. Human-wildlife interactions in conservation translocations: Developing guidelines.
Social and environmental justice for a sustainable future
Hallenberg, K., Maclean, A., Consorte-McCrea, A., Ali, Z., Makinde, M. and Martin, E. 2023. Social and environmental justice for a sustainable future.
Editorial: Human dimensions of animal translocations
Consorte-McCrea, Adriana and Ruiz-Miranda, Carlos R. 2023. Editorial: Human dimensions of animal translocations. Frontiers in Conservation Science. (4), p. 1183968. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2023.1183968
The fierce urgency of now? Navigating paradoxes in sustainability education
Scoffham, S., Kemp, N. and Consorte-McCrea, A. 2022. The fierce urgency of now? Navigating paradoxes in sustainability education. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 23 (1), pp. 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2022-515
Developing guidelines for the human-wildlife interactions in conservation translocations
Consorte-McCrea, A., Kolipaka, S. and Engel, M. 2022. Developing guidelines for the human-wildlife interactions in conservation translocations.
Attitudes towards the reintroduction of the chough to Kent
Consorte-McCrea, A., Franz, A. and Bainbridge, A. 2022. Attitudes towards the reintroduction of the chough to Kent.
Guidelines to facilitate human-wildlife interactions in conservation translocations
Consorte-McCrea, A., Kolipaka, Shekhar, Owens, Jacob R., Ruiz-Miranda, Carlos R. and Waters, Siân 2022. Guidelines to facilitate human-wildlife interactions in conservation translocations. Frontiers in Conservation Science. 3, p. 788520. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2022.788520
Facilitating human-wildlife interactions in conservation translocations
Consorte-McCrea, A., Kolipaka, S., Owens, J. R., Ruiz-Miranda, C. R. and Waters, S. 2021. Facilitating human-wildlife interactions in conservation translocations.
Biological flora of the British Isles: Crassula helmsii
Smith, T. and Buckley, P. 2020. Biological flora of the British Isles: Crassula helmsii. Journal of Ecology. 108 (2), pp. 797-813. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13336
Large carnivores and zoos as catalysts for engaging the public in the protection of biodiversity
Consorte-McCrea, A., Fernandez, A., Bainbridge, A., Moss, A., Prévot, A-C., Clayton, S., Glikman, J.A., Johansson, M., López-Bao, J.V., Bath, A., Frank, B. and Marchini, S. 2019. Large carnivores and zoos as catalysts for engaging the public in the protection of biodiversity. Nature Conservation. 37, pp. 133-150. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.37.39501
‘Whole earth?’ using an exhibition to raise sustainability awareness at a UK University
Scoffham, S. and Consorte-McCrea, A. 2018. ‘Whole earth?’ using an exhibition to raise sustainability awareness at a UK University. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development. 12 (2), pp. 160-175. https://doi.org/10.1177/0973408218785322
Sustainability and religion: past trends and future perspectives
Leal Filho, W., Dahms, L. and Consorte-McCrea, A. 2018. Sustainability and religion: past trends and future perspectives. in: Leal Filho, W. and Consorte-McCrea, A. (ed.) Sustainability and the Humanities Springer. pp. 611-619
Implications of teenagers' attitudes toward maned wolf conservation in Brazil
Consorte-McCrea, A., Nigbur, D. and Bath, A. 2017. Implications of teenagers' attitudes toward maned wolf conservation in Brazil. Canid Biology & Conservation. 20 (5), pp. 16-24.
Curriculum review of ESD at CCCU: a case study in health and wellbeing
Consorte-McCrea, A., Griggs, C. and Kemp, N. 2017. Curriculum review of ESD at CCCU: a case study in health and wellbeing. in: Leal Filho, W. (ed.) Implementing Sustainability in the Curriculum of Universities: Approaches, Methods and Projects Springer. pp. 247-262
Understanding attitudes towards native wildlife and biodiversity in the UK: the role of zoos
Consorte-McCrea, A., Bainbridge, A., Fernandez, A., Nigbur, D., McDonnell, S., Morin, A. and Grente, O. 2016. Understanding attitudes towards native wildlife and biodiversity in the UK: the role of zoos. World Sustainability Series. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47883-8_17
Ecology and conservation of the maned wolf: introduction
Consorte-McCrea, A. and Santos, E. 2013. Ecology and conservation of the maned wolf: introduction. in: Consorte-McCrea, A. and Santos, E. (ed.) Ecology and Conservation of the Maned Wolf: Multidisciplinary Perspectives London, New York, Boca Raton CRC Press. pp. xiii-xvii
The relationships between the maned wolf and people
Consorte-McCrea, A. 2013. The relationships between the maned wolf and people. in: Consorte-McCrea, A. and Santos, E. (ed.) Ecology and Conservation of the Maned Wolf: Multidisciplinary Perspectives London, New York, Boca Raton CRC Press. pp. 35-52
La relacion entre el aguara guazu los pobladores en Brasil
Consorte-McCrea, A. 2015. La relacion entre el aguara guazu los pobladores en Brasil. in: Ciccia, P., Soler, L. and Orozco, M. (ed.) El Aguara Guazu en Argentina : Lecciones aprendidas y recomendaciones para su conservación Argentina Fundación de Historia Natural Felix de Azara. pp. 77-84
Attitudes towards the maned wolf amongst adolescents in the southeast of Brazil
Consorte-McCrea, A., Nigbur, D. and Bath, A. 2015. Attitudes towards the maned wolf amongst adolescents in the southeast of Brazil.
Attitudes of zoo visitors and professionals towards the conservation of the maned wolf in southeast Brazil
Consorte-McCrea, A. and Rubin, R. 2009. Attitudes of zoo visitors and professionals towards the conservation of the maned wolf in southeast Brazil. Canid News. 12 (1), pp. 1-22.
The role of zoos in attitudes towards biodiversity and the reintroduction of native wild carnivores to the UK: results from a pilot study
Consorte-McCrea, A., Bainbridge, A., Fernandez, A., Nigbur, D. and McDonnell, S. 2015. The role of zoos in attitudes towards biodiversity and the reintroduction of native wild carnivores to the UK: results from a pilot study. ICCB: 27th International Congress for Conservation Biology 4th European Congress for Conservation Biology. Montpellier, France
The growth of the non-native Crassula helmsii increases the rarity scores of macrophyte assemblages in south-eastern England
Smith, T. and Buckley, P. 2015. The growth of the non-native Crassula helmsii increases the rarity scores of macrophyte assemblages in south-eastern England. New Journal of Botany. 5 (3), pp. 192-199. https://doi.org/10.1080/20423489.2015.1096137
Conservation of the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus): carnivore and people relationships in the southeast of Brazil
Consorte-McCrea, A. 2011. Conservation of the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus): carnivore and people relationships in the southeast of Brazil. PhD Thesis University of Kent School of Biological Sciences
Can the effectiveness of different forms of feedback be measured? Retention and student preference for written and verbal feedback in level 4 bioscience students
Buckley, P. 2012. Can the effectiveness of different forms of feedback be measured? Retention and student preference for written and verbal feedback in level 4 bioscience students. Journal of Biological Education. 4 (46), pp. 242-246. https://doi.org/10.1080/00219266.2012.702676
Carnivore v people conflict: The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in the Southeast of Brazil
Rubin, R. and Consorte-McCrea, A. 2009. Carnivore v people conflict: The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in the Southeast of Brazil.
Filter feeding crustaceans in the Stour Estuary, Kent, UK
Buckley, P. and Dussart, G. 2008. Filter feeding crustaceans in the Stour Estuary, Kent, UK. Current Marine and Coastal Issues for North East Kent: Proceedings of the Third North East Kent Coastal Conference.
Attitudes of a sample of zoo visitors and professionals towards the conservation of the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in the southeast of Brazil
Consorte-McCrea, A. and Rubin, R. 2009. Attitudes of a sample of zoo visitors and professionals towards the conservation of the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in the southeast of Brazil. Canid News. 12 (1).