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A peer-reviewed article of this preprint also exists.
This version is not peer-reviewed
Submitted:
22 December 2023
Posted:
25 December 2023
You are already at the latest version
Type | Question | Response option |
---|---|---|
Demographical | What is your age? | Categorical |
What is your gender identity? | Categorical | |
What is your outward postal code? | Open | |
What is your job/career | Categorical | |
What is your level of education | Categorical | |
Likert scale | It would be good to have brown bears in this region | 5 Likert scale categories |
It would be good to have grey wolves in this region | ||
It would be good to have Eurasian lynxes in this region | ||
Brown bears would be harmful to livestock | ||
Grey wolves would be harmful to livestock | ||
Eurasian lynxes would be harmful to livestock | ||
Brown bears would be harmful to humans | ||
Grey wolves would be harmful to humans | ||
Eurasian lynxes would be harmful to humans | ||
Brown bears would be harmful to pets | ||
Grey wolves would be harmful to pets | ||
Eurasian lynxes would be harmful to pets | ||
Predation of deer would be a benefit of reintroduction | ||
Rewilding your region is a priority | ||
Open questions | What are the benefits of these reintroductions? | Open |
What are the negatives of these reintroductions? | ||
Which would you rather see reintroduced: brown bear, grey wolf, Eurasian lynx? Why? | ||
How would you describe an encounter with one of these reintroduced species? | ||
What alternatives to reintroductions would you prefer to see? |
Variable | Category | % |
---|---|---|
Age | 18-24 | 19.23 |
25-34 | 12.82 | |
35-44 | 15.38 | |
45-54 | 19.23 | |
55-64 | 24.36 | |
65+ | 8.97 | |
Gender | Female | 61.54 |
Male | 38.46 | |
Rural urban classification | Rural | 38.46 |
Mixed | 19.23 | |
Urban | 42.31 | |
Education level | GCSE | 8.97 |
A level | 11.54 | |
Undergraduate | 42.31 | |
Master | 32.05 | |
PhD | 5.13 | |
Career | Farmer | 12.82 |
Nature conservationist | 19.23 | |
Environmental sector | 16.67 | |
Other | 51.28 |
What are the benefits of these reintroductions? | What are the negatives to these reintroductions | What alternatives to reintroductions would you prefer to see? | |
---|---|---|---|
Environmental sector | |||
1. Improved biodiversity, diversification of the natural environment. 2. Balance in ecosystems, more natural balance, restoring ecological balance 3. Deer predation, natural control of out-of-control species, management of undulates overgrazing 4. Increase public interest in wildlife |
1. Predation on existing populations of thriving native species, the reintroduced species could also be targeted by poachers, killed by infrastructure (roads, railways), competition of food and shelter/cover. 2. Concerns about predation in farms and areas in which these species may be reintroduced 3. Require significant management and maintenance 4. Risk and danger for other animals and humans |
1. A return to low intensity traditional agricultural management with UK rare breeds. 2. Time and effort spent on preserving our habitats - limitation on housing developments, encouraging farms to 'think green'; clean rivers, protection areas extended. 3. Garner much more interest in wildlife amongst the general public than any other scheme or plan (e.g. biodiversity net gain) ever could. 4. Natural rewilding of environment |
|
Farmers | |||
1. Bringing back endangered animals is always a positive 2. Balancing ecosystems |
1. Not suitable for highly populated areas 2. Harm to current populations 3. Would require a complete change of management requiring livestock to be managed more intensively and be fenced in, rather than extensively, and the use of livestock guardian dogs which is not even achievable within our current UK dog welfare legislation. Livestock guardian dogs weighing over 45kg, in wolf country, have to wear collars fitted with metal spikes to protect them from wolf attacks. A ewe or lamb would have no chance. 4. To reintroduce these species is to go back a thousand years. Farmers have to ensure the welfare of their animals and to reintroduce would mean that’s not possible. Also the so called uptake in eco-tourism which I’m very sceptical about would mean it’s not a wild area anyway. Also ground nesting birds which are struggling anyway would be wiped out |
1. To start with we need to get habitats managed and suitable for wildlife to be able to thrive 2. Controlled humane cull, when necessary, of any overpopulated species that we already have in the UK. 3. Instead of reintroduction, concentrate on supporting the species already here. Cull badgers to help hedgehogs & bees. Reintroduce legal hunting. |
|
Nature conservationist | |||
1. Creating a more resilient ecosystem that operates more functionally 2. Would reinvigorate a new sense of wonder and attraction for the UK countryside 3. Not enough natural food for bear likely to cause conflict with people 4. Putting the UK at the forefront of restoring degraded ecosystems |
1. Not enough natural food for bear likely to cause conflict with people 2. Drastic increase in livestock predation, possible unforeseen damage to ecosystems 3. People feeling unsafe walking in nature (whether this is justified or not) 4. Not enough in fragmented habitat to sustain viable populations |
1. None really, I would just say that a lynx reintroduction should be trailed first before any of the other species are seriously planned. 2. Unprecedented change in policy and law in the UK regarding safeguarding and care of ecosystems and the environment would be useful 3. The right habitats need to be restored before allowing large predators back to the UK, also livestock will need to be protected much better as there are a lot of free roaming sheep. 4. We should protect and restore what we have left, improved habitat management and protection in locations where the species still exist. |
|
Other | |||
1. Halt the destruction we have done to our planet. 2. Lead to a reversal of the current decline in native species both animals and plants |
1. Needs a suitable compensation scheme 2. I fear for their safety, particularly from poaching, disgruntled farmers and trophy hunters. 3. Farmers need to be involved heavily as they are the main custodians of the open land. |
1. More hedgerows, wildflower areas, greenways so wildlife can get from area to area, and education on the importance of our wildlife starting from nursery children and carrying on throughout the whole school system. 2. Successful implementation of the new farming scheme 3. Careful culling of deer - in a way that makes sure they suffer a little as possible - followed up by birth control for them if possible. 4. Removing licences to hold grouse shoots. Allowing the regeneration of moorland without burning peat. Banning the use of snares or any other form of trapping mammals and birds. Prevent the shooting of birds of prey. Shooting deer in a controlled way leaving some carcasses for foxes, birds of prey and carrion beetles. 5. Maybe the creation of enclosed habitats, large enough to create a natural and realistic habitat, but secure enough to keep them contained |
Response | Predictor a | Mean estimate (SE) | Wald χ2 | p-value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Good to have bears | Career: other | 3.17 (0.83) | 14.43 | <0.001 |
Career: nature conservation | 2.20 (0.90) | 6.03 | 0.014 | |
Career: environmental sector | 3.56 (1.01) | 12.35 | <0.001 | |
Good to have wolves | Age | -0.30 (0.15) | 4.05 | 0.044 |
Education | -0.50 (0.25) | 3.38 | 0.051 | |
Career: other | 3.95 (0.92) | 18.30 | <0.001 | |
Career: nature conservation | 4.04 (1.03) | 15.38 | <0.001 | |
Career: environmental sector | 4.72 (1.10) | 18.39 | <0.001 | |
Good to have lynx | Career: other | 3.15 (0.87) | 13.15 | <0.001 |
Career: nature conservation | 3.85 (1.00) | 14.68 | <0.001 | |
Career: environmental sector | 3.55 (1.05) | 11.34 | <0.001 | |
Bears harmful to livestock | Career: other | -2.04 (0.74) | 7.55 | 0.006 |
Career: nature conservation | -3.00 (0.88) | 11.54 | <0.001 | |
Career: environmental sector | -2.41 (0.92) | 6.83 | 0.009 | |
Wolves harmful to livestock | Career: other | -3.20 (0.84) | 14.14 | <0.001 |
Career: nature conservation | -3.78 (0.99) | 14.55 | <0.001 | |
Career: environmental sector | -3.86 (1.02) | 14.31 | <0.001 | |
Lynx harmful to livestock | Career: other | -2.52 (0.81) | 9.69 | <0.001 |
Career: nature conservation | -3.36 (0.97) | 12.09 | <0.001 | |
Career: environmental sector | -3.22 (0.99) | 10.52 | <0.001 | |
Bears dangerous to humans | Career: other | -1.63 (0.83) | 3.86 | 0.049 |
Wolves dangerous to humans | Career: nature conservation | -1.93 (0.93) | 4.32 | 0.038 |
Lynx dangerous to humans | Career: nature conservation | -3.19 (0.96) | 10.95 | <0.001 |
Bears dangerous to pets | Career: other | -2.03 (0.73) | 7.67 | 0.006 |
Career: nature conservation | -2.26 (0.87) | 6.83 | 0.009 | |
Career: environmental sector | -1.69 (0.90) | 3.52 | 0.061 | |
Wolves dangerous to pets | Career: other | -2.21 (0.77) | 8.19 | 0.004 |
Career: nature conservation | -2.55 (0.91) | 7.76 | 0.005 | |
Career: environmental sector | -2.11 (0.92) | 5.24 | 0.022 | |
Lynxes dangerous to pets | Career: other | -1.88 (0.76) | 6.10 | 0.014 |
Career: nature conservation | -3.32 (0.95) | 12.20 | <0.001 | |
Career: environmental sector | -2.23 (0.94) | 5.63 | 0.018 | |
Predation of deer is a benefit | Education | 0.53 (0.25) | 4.53 | 0.033 |
Career: other | 1.51 (0.75) | 4.05 | 0.044 | |
Career: nature conservation | 2.63 (0.90) | 8.51 | 0.004 | |
Rewilding is a priority | Career: other | 1.87 (0.72) | 6.71 | 0.010 |
Career: nature conservation | 3.03 (0.88) | 11.95 | <0.001 | |
Career: environmental sector | 2.78 (0.91) | 9.34 | 0.002 |
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