Rancher viewpoint diversity in human–wildlife coexistence management: The case of jaguar–livestock interaction in the region of Calakmul, Mexico

Abstract Protected areas in Latin America are typically surrounded by ranching landscapes, where large carnivores such as the jaguar (Panthera onca), co‐habit with ranchers, which potentially causes negative interactions. It is crucial, however, recognize that effective coexistence hinges on develop...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elías J. Gordillo‐Chávez, Claudia Villanueva‐García, Enrique Melo‐Guerrero, Mircea G. Hidalgo‐Mihart, Miguel Lizana‐Avia, Fernando Rodríguez‐López, Victor J. Colino‐Rabanal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:People and Nature
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10739
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832591129174867968
author Elías J. Gordillo‐Chávez
Claudia Villanueva‐García
Enrique Melo‐Guerrero
Mircea G. Hidalgo‐Mihart
Miguel Lizana‐Avia
Fernando Rodríguez‐López
Victor J. Colino‐Rabanal
author_facet Elías J. Gordillo‐Chávez
Claudia Villanueva‐García
Enrique Melo‐Guerrero
Mircea G. Hidalgo‐Mihart
Miguel Lizana‐Avia
Fernando Rodríguez‐López
Victor J. Colino‐Rabanal
author_sort Elías J. Gordillo‐Chávez
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Protected areas in Latin America are typically surrounded by ranching landscapes, where large carnivores such as the jaguar (Panthera onca), co‐habit with ranchers, which potentially causes negative interactions. It is crucial, however, recognize that effective coexistence hinges on developing conservation policies that not only address these negative interactions but also embrace the diversity of the landowners' perspectives, aligning with the preferences of communities to prevent conservation conflicts. In this study, we conducted discrete choice experiments (DCE) with 196 ranchers in five localities in the Calakmul region to assess their preferences about four key attributes related to jaguar conservation: percentage of forests, livestock management practices, the number of desired jaguars and the willingness to invest in measures that promote coexistence between livestock and jaguars. Our research reveals that ranchers' preferences are diverse. Some favour increased forest cover and silvopastoral ranching, while others prefer reduced forest areas and the absence of jaguars. To address these diverse viewpoints and promote positive preferences, we must develop a comprehensive strategy considering the full spectrum of needs and preferences. Therefore, conservation incentives must be designed to address local communities' fundamental needs, such as education, healthcare, women's empowerment and cultural preservation. Participatory diagnostics involving local communities are imperative to accurately identify these needs. The observed heterogeneity of preferences in our study emphasizes the importance of integrating these diverse perspectives into conservation policies for a more balanced and equitable distribution of resources. Our findings demonstrate the value of DCEs in providing valuable information for developing more effective and socially acceptable jaguar conservation policies that consider diverse perspectives and the people's characteristics in our sample population. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
format Article
id doaj-art-cf5a6f7e608745749b3bc9dc8a35fa1a
institution Kabale University
issn 2575-8314
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series People and Nature
spelling doaj-art-cf5a6f7e608745749b3bc9dc8a35fa1a2025-01-23T04:04:08ZengWileyPeople and Nature2575-83142025-01-0171678010.1002/pan3.10739Rancher viewpoint diversity in human–wildlife coexistence management: The case of jaguar–livestock interaction in the region of Calakmul, MexicoElías J. Gordillo‐Chávez0Claudia Villanueva‐García1Enrique Melo‐Guerrero2Mircea G. Hidalgo‐Mihart3Miguel Lizana‐Avia4Fernando Rodríguez‐López5Victor J. Colino‐Rabanal6Departamento de Biologia Animal (Zoologia), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Ambientales Universidad de Salamanca Salamanca SpainDivisión Académica de Ciencias Biológicas División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco Villahermosa Tabasco MexicoUniversidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Rancho Universitario Tulancingo Hidalgo MexicoDepartamento de Biologia Animal (Zoologia), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Ambientales Universidad de Salamanca Salamanca SpainDepartamento de Biologia Animal (Zoologia), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Ambientales Universidad de Salamanca Salamanca SpainDepartamento de Economía Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Ambientales Universidad de Salamanca Salamanca SpainDepartamento de Biologia Animal (Zoologia), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Ambientales Universidad de Salamanca Salamanca SpainAbstract Protected areas in Latin America are typically surrounded by ranching landscapes, where large carnivores such as the jaguar (Panthera onca), co‐habit with ranchers, which potentially causes negative interactions. It is crucial, however, recognize that effective coexistence hinges on developing conservation policies that not only address these negative interactions but also embrace the diversity of the landowners' perspectives, aligning with the preferences of communities to prevent conservation conflicts. In this study, we conducted discrete choice experiments (DCE) with 196 ranchers in five localities in the Calakmul region to assess their preferences about four key attributes related to jaguar conservation: percentage of forests, livestock management practices, the number of desired jaguars and the willingness to invest in measures that promote coexistence between livestock and jaguars. Our research reveals that ranchers' preferences are diverse. Some favour increased forest cover and silvopastoral ranching, while others prefer reduced forest areas and the absence of jaguars. To address these diverse viewpoints and promote positive preferences, we must develop a comprehensive strategy considering the full spectrum of needs and preferences. Therefore, conservation incentives must be designed to address local communities' fundamental needs, such as education, healthcare, women's empowerment and cultural preservation. Participatory diagnostics involving local communities are imperative to accurately identify these needs. The observed heterogeneity of preferences in our study emphasizes the importance of integrating these diverse perspectives into conservation policies for a more balanced and equitable distribution of resources. Our findings demonstrate the value of DCEs in providing valuable information for developing more effective and socially acceptable jaguar conservation policies that consider diverse perspectives and the people's characteristics in our sample population. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10739conservationconservation preferencesdiscrete choice experimenthuman–wildlife interactionlocal stakeholdersranchers
spellingShingle Elías J. Gordillo‐Chávez
Claudia Villanueva‐García
Enrique Melo‐Guerrero
Mircea G. Hidalgo‐Mihart
Miguel Lizana‐Avia
Fernando Rodríguez‐López
Victor J. Colino‐Rabanal
Rancher viewpoint diversity in human–wildlife coexistence management: The case of jaguar–livestock interaction in the region of Calakmul, Mexico
People and Nature
conservation
conservation preferences
discrete choice experiment
human–wildlife interaction
local stakeholders
ranchers
title Rancher viewpoint diversity in human–wildlife coexistence management: The case of jaguar–livestock interaction in the region of Calakmul, Mexico
title_full Rancher viewpoint diversity in human–wildlife coexistence management: The case of jaguar–livestock interaction in the region of Calakmul, Mexico
title_fullStr Rancher viewpoint diversity in human–wildlife coexistence management: The case of jaguar–livestock interaction in the region of Calakmul, Mexico
title_full_unstemmed Rancher viewpoint diversity in human–wildlife coexistence management: The case of jaguar–livestock interaction in the region of Calakmul, Mexico
title_short Rancher viewpoint diversity in human–wildlife coexistence management: The case of jaguar–livestock interaction in the region of Calakmul, Mexico
title_sort rancher viewpoint diversity in human wildlife coexistence management the case of jaguar livestock interaction in the region of calakmul mexico
topic conservation
conservation preferences
discrete choice experiment
human–wildlife interaction
local stakeholders
ranchers
url https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10739
work_keys_str_mv AT eliasjgordillochavez rancherviewpointdiversityinhumanwildlifecoexistencemanagementthecaseofjaguarlivestockinteractionintheregionofcalakmulmexico
AT claudiavillanuevagarcia rancherviewpointdiversityinhumanwildlifecoexistencemanagementthecaseofjaguarlivestockinteractionintheregionofcalakmulmexico
AT enriquemeloguerrero rancherviewpointdiversityinhumanwildlifecoexistencemanagementthecaseofjaguarlivestockinteractionintheregionofcalakmulmexico
AT mirceaghidalgomihart rancherviewpointdiversityinhumanwildlifecoexistencemanagementthecaseofjaguarlivestockinteractionintheregionofcalakmulmexico
AT miguellizanaavia rancherviewpointdiversityinhumanwildlifecoexistencemanagementthecaseofjaguarlivestockinteractionintheregionofcalakmulmexico
AT fernandorodriguezlopez rancherviewpointdiversityinhumanwildlifecoexistencemanagementthecaseofjaguarlivestockinteractionintheregionofcalakmulmexico
AT victorjcolinorabanal rancherviewpointdiversityinhumanwildlifecoexistencemanagementthecaseofjaguarlivestockinteractionintheregionofcalakmulmexico