Abstract
Species reintroductions are an increasingly popular conservation tool, typically aiming to achieve direct conservation benefits. Socio‐cultural drivers also exist but have, to date, received very little attention in research and policy. As a case study, we focus on the recent and ongoing reintroduction of the white stork Ciconia ciconia to England, key drivers of which include connecting people with nature, providing local socio‐economic benefits and inspiring environmental restoration. We surveyed 3531 people in Britain to establish and explore baseline perceptions toward white storks and their reintroduction, including their cultural salience. Findings were compared and evaluated between (i) self‐selecting and nationally representative samples and (ii) residents living close to release sites versus non‐locals. In contrast to self‐selecting participants, most of the nationally representative sample had never heard of nor seen a white stork and were unaware of the reintroduction. Attitudes were more positive in the self‐selecting sample and neutral or uncertain in the nationally representative sample. Consequently, to assess views of both engaged communities and wider publics, we recommend reintroductions adopt a similar two‐mode sampling strategy to that used here when undertaking social feasibility assessments/public consultations. Eighty‐six percent of participants supported the reintroduction overall. Reasons provided for support were diverse, relating to perceived or experienced socio‐cultural benefits and values, general biodiversity enrichment, and moral impetus to restore formerly native species. Criticisms, raised by a minority, related to uncertainty/disagreement about the white stork's formerly native status; rigour of the ecological risk assessment; and a perceived lack of transparency regarding how the project supports conservation efforts. Given that reintroductions have underexplored potential to (re)establish socio‐cultural relationships between people, wildlife and landscapes, and these are increasingly cited as justifications for reintroductions, we encourage further discussion and research in this area. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1680-1696 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | People and Nature |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 5 Sept 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors would like to thank all participants of the online survey for their contribution to this research, and all pre‐testers who helped strengthen the final survey instrument. We thank Bilendi for their recruitment of the nationally representative participant sample. This research was supported by the University of Brighton Rising Stars scheme 2020‐2021. Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, for which three of the study authors work (L.G., M.A.H., and R.J.K.), was one of the partner organisations of the White Stork Project between 2018 and 2022, with a focus on post‐release monitoring and public engagement. However, the work is that of the authors and is independent from the White Stork Project and the opinions of its partner's.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. People and Nature published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ecological Society.
Keywords
- cultural salience
- public opinion
- Ciconia ciconia
- conservation translocation
- white stork
- birds
- reintroduction
- nature connection