Evaluating dynamics in human‐bear interactions within social‐ecological system

Abstract

Over the past few decades, social‐ecological transformations have contributed to the restoration of numerous carnivores, presenting new challenges for human‐wildlife coexistence. Evaluating and understanding human‐wildlife interaction dynamics, particularly for conflict‐prone species, is crucial for conservation and management strategies. Our study focuses on Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) in Western Yunnan, China, a region with favourable bear conditions and significant environmental changes due to conservation policies. This study employed a multifaceted approach to gather data on bear occurrences and human‐bear conflicts. Utilising species distribution models, we predicted the potential bear habitat in 2000 and 2020. We proposed a methodology integrating bear habitat with human footprint to delineate the human‐bear interface. Additionally, we evaluated the spatial–temporal variations in bear habitat and human‐bear interface between 2000 and 2020. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted to capture the perceptions of local communities regarding the bear population, human‐bear interactions and conservation policies. Our findings indicated that the potential habitats of bears were strongly influenced by forest cover. We noticed improvements in bear habitat from 2000 to 2020, notwithstanding localised losses in specific areas. Most respondents attributed the increasing bear population to forest restoration and reduced human impact during this period. Notably, a significant proportion of respondents supported the conservation policies, previously participating in their formulation and implementation. Our analysis further revealed increases in the human‐bear interface and human‐bear interactions from 2000 to 2020. Remarkably, these changes did not significantly diminish local communities' endorsement of conservation policies. This resilience can be attributed to the net positive impacts of conservation policies on the livelihoods of these communities. Our study highlights the complexity and dynamic nature of human‐wildlife interactions within the social‐ecological system and provides new insights to facilitate sustainable conservation and management measures. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.