Human dimensions of wolf (Canis lupus) conflicts in Finland

Abstract

The growth of the Finnish wolf (Canis lupus) population during the last years has highlighted people's contradictory attitudes toward wolves. The supranational conservation objectives brought on by Finland's membership in the European Union (EU) and the regional application of the official policy on wolves have led to conflicts. This article is based on the preparation process of the wolf management plan in Finland. As a part of the process, a nationwide hearing was arranged in 2004. Fear of wolves is widespread and even more common in areas with low wolf population. People living in areas where wolves occur feel that they can no longer influence decision making which affects them and that the authorities, conservationists, and the EU do not listen to their opinions. Numerous requests have been made for the legislation and its interpretation, and concessions to these requests would promote consensus and increase tolerance for wolves. Proposed changes include reforming the damage compensation system and formulating a clearer interpretation of the conservation status of wolves. However, it seems impossible to create a policy that would be universally supported. As the wolf question has become more central in environmental policy, the conservation and management of the species have become more complicated, and the cooperation between various interest groups has declined. The wolf conflict could be mitigated by compromises, but because the conflict is value-based, solutions are illusive.

Loss of traditional knowledge aggravates wolf–human conflict in Georgia (Caucasus) in the wake of socio-economic change

“…Negative attitudes towards large carnivores, particularly wolves, have complicated efforts to restore predator populations in Scandinavia (Røskaft et al 2007;Bisi et al 2007). …”

“…Bisi et al 2007;Balčiauskas 2008). Georgia is one such country where the existence of viable wolf populations, genetically connected to populations in neighbouring countries, is well documented Pilot et al 2014).…”

Environmental attitudes associated with large-scale cultural differences, not local environmental conflicts

“…The recovery of carnivore populations worldwide has been accompanied by an increase in studies that investigate the human and institutional responses to these recoveries (Bisi et al 2007;Roskaft et al 2007;Heberlein et al 2008;Gangaas et al 2013). However, few studies have examined relationships between basic life values such as general environmental value orientation and attitudes towards large carnivores (Bjerke et al 1998a).…”

The good bad wolf—wolf evaluation reveals the roots of the Finnish wolf conflict

“…Consequently, the expansion and the growth of the population have raised new challenges to wolf management objectives (Bisi et al 2007;Bisi and Kurki 2008). The wolf population has grown the most in the eastern regions of Finland.…”

“…In some areas, the wolf is a part of everyday life, whereas in other areas, it exists only in discussions. The return of the wolf has resulted in a complex multilevel management conflict, extending ultimately to a conflict between Finland and the European Union (EU; Bisi et al 2007).…”