Understanding Social Dimensions in Wildlife Conservation: Multiple Stakeholder Views

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 7; p. 811
• Main Authors: Pimid, Marcela, Mohd Nasir, Mohammad Rusdi, Krishnan, Kumara Thevan, Chambers, Geoffrey K, Ahmad, A Ghafar, Perijin, Jimli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 23.03.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Biodiversity; Coexistence; communication science; Community; conservation planning framework; Data collection; Decision making; Ecological effects; Economic development; Empowerment; Endangered & extinct species; Environmental protection; Human-environment relationship; Indigenous peoples; Interviews; Plantations; Private sector; Property damage; Protected areas; Rural areas; Rural communities; Social factors; social science; Social sciences; social value; Social values; stakeholder conflict; Stakeholders; State government; Tourism; Wildlife conservation; stakeholder conflict; Kinabatangan; communication science; wildlife conservation; social value; Malaysia; human–wildlife conflict; social science; conservation planning framework
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani12070811

Numerous studies show the importance of social understanding in addressing multifaceted conservation issues. Building on a conservation planning framework, this study examines the social dimensions of wildlife conservation in Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysia. It employs a qualitative approach by conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with sixty informants drawn from local community members, government officials, tourism operators, non-government organizations, and the private sector. Our results show that the incidence of human-wildlife conflicts has reduced in the region, but that conflicts among stakeholders themselves about wildlife still remain a significant threat for attaining successful conservation outcomes. Further stakeholder perceptions of increased wildlife numbers often contrast with actual counts returned by periodical surveys conducted by conservation agencies, e.g., showing a 30% decline of orangutans and a 29% decline of gibbon abundance. This shows that evidence-based conservation messages have not been communicated well. The study has implications for enhancing social values among conservation players, promoting local community empowerment and revising conservation awareness programs.