Public values of wildlife: what are they?
Date
2014-09
Authors
Steinbach, Don, speaker
International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, producer
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
In analyzing public values of wildlife, one must define the segments of the public that you want to access values regarding wildlife. Teel, T. L, et al (Wildlife Values in the West) defined publics who value wildlife. They describe these wildlife orientations in the western U.S. along several distinct dimensions. Utilitarians hold a philosophy that wildlife is for human use, and these individuals are strongly positive toward hunting and fishing. Mutualists are those who consider wildlife as part of an extended family and believe in an ideal world where people and wildlife live side-by-side without fear. Teel further describes that persons in western states vary greatly in these value orientations associated strongly with differences in state-level income, education, and urbanization. Value orientations differ on a variety of descriptive variables and their attitudes toward wildlife management issues. There is a diverse value-set associated with wildlife that may be grouped into categories including financial, recreational, social, biologic, ecologic, emotional and spiritual. Many of these values or products are quantifiable, some which create financial opportunities for landowners, thus incentivizing stewardship. There are some wildlife-related products on private lands which possess esoteric qualities with immeasurable values. Publics relate to wildlife in different ways creating a diverse relevance for wildlife and by society. Some public values which are found on private lands, such as water, appeal to both utilitarian and mutualistic publics, but those values are not necessarily perceived by those publics as a product of stewardship practices associated with land and wildlife.
Description
Presented at the 8th international congress for wildlife and livelihoods on private and communal lands: livestock, tourism, and spirit, that was held on September 7-12, 2014 in Estes Park, Colorado.
Presented during Plenary Session III.
Presented during Plenary Session III.
Rights Access
Subject
Wildlife management -- Congresses
Range management -- Congresses