People and Wildlife - conflicts and resolutions

Location: Hula Valley, Israel

workshop dates: December 18^th – 22^nd, 2022

Application deadline: December 8^th, 2022

Workshop Instructors: Prof. Alistair Bath and Dr. Rona Nadler Valency

Prof. Alistair Bath, PhD, Memorial University, Newfoundland, Canada.

Professor Bath is a leading researcher of human-wildlife conflicts and human dimensions in natural resource management, member of the wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone and the IUCN/SSG Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe.

Prof. Alistair Bath is a full professor at Memorial University with more than 30 years of experience in human-wildlife conflicts and human dimensions in natural resource management issues. He has worked on wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park as well as wolf control issues in Yukon.

Alistair is a member of the IUCN/SSG Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe and has led various research projects throughout Europe on large carnivores. Through human dimension research and his applied human dimensions facilitated workshop approach (AHDFWA), Alistair understands the nature of the conflict and works with groups to understand and address the key issues. He has taught human dimension courses in conservation biology programs, for NGOs, IUCN, Council of Europe, and various government agencies worldwide. Alistair enjoys working with people and finding solutions to conservation challenges that we face today.

Dr. Rona Nadler Valency, Tel-Hai College. DVM and chief of Agamon Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

 Workshop Overview

Human Dimensions (HD) research is a broad field of exploring human-wildlife interactions by understanding attitudes, beliefs, values, behavioral intentions, and behaviors. Such research can help conservation managers understand public attitudes toward various species or habitats. HD studies can focus on identifying types of conflict, the first step toward conflict resolution.

This intensive field workshop will focus on HD in biodiversity resource management and more broadly how to work with people to achieve conservation. The workshop will cover the human dimension approach from a research perspective as well as the applied human dimension facilitated workshop approach developed and implemented by Alistair worldwide. Students will understand HD within the context of public involvement, practice; facilitation skills, strategic planning, conflict resolution and consensus building for successful resolution of human, wildlife and natural resource conflict challenges.

This workshop is a good fit for third year students in natural and environmental sciences, research scientists and professionals in the field of nature conservation who wish to deepen their knowledge in a novel and relevant academic and applied science field which addresses common issues with human-wildlife interactions.

This workshop led by Dr. Alistair Bath will focus on human dimensions (HD) in biodiversity resource management and more broadly how to work with people to achieve conservation. The workshop will cover the human dimension approach from a research perspective as well as the applied perspective. This workshop will help students understand HD within the context of public involvement, facilitation skills, strategic planning, conflict resolution and consensus building for successful resolution of human, wildlife and natural resource conflict challenges.

Online resources and publications by Prof. Bath:

https://www.bathandassociates.ca/resources

 

Main Topics covered during this workshop:

*Pre-Workshop facilitation event: 15.12.22 / 14:00 / Golan Heights.

Additional information to be provided. *Optional but recommended.

 

18.12.22 Day 1 Agamon 8:00-18:00

Introduction to Human Dimensions: setting the context.

 Feelings about wildlife

 Nature of a resource

 Components of attitude

Conservation management as a discipline in transition

 Dimensions of resource management, from biology to habitat to people.

 Is biology enough?

 Balancing the need for ecological science with social science – perhaps a 10% / 90% ratio would be more successful for conservation?

 

19.12.22 Day 2 Agamon 08:00 – 18:00

Wildlife-human interactions and perceptions of conflict

 Differing values, differing interests, perceptions of risk, wildlife acceptance capacity, urban versus rural, gender and interest group differences

Human Dimensions

 Measuring attitudes, sharing examples, case study problems, communication and developing effective communication strategies

 Emotional versus factual routes of communication messaging - what works?

 Measuring attitude and knowledge change – content vs goal/objective evaluations

 

20.12.22 Day 3 Agamon classroom and field 08:00-18:00 (16:00 tour in field sunset)

5. Human Dimensions and Public Involvement (P.I.)

 Nature of P.I.

 P.I. beginnings - from Arnstein's ladder to HD as a facilitated workshop approach for working with interest groups toward conservation solutions.

6. Understanding the P.I. continuum

 Approaches, tools demonstrated through examples

Field trip - Introduction to Farmer-Crane conflict in the Hula Valley as study case

 

21.12.22 Day 4 morning – field Golan heights tour and afternoon Agamon classroom (Golan 05:00 – 12:00/ 13:00-16:00 Agamon)

Field trip- Rancher-Wolf conflict in the Golan Heights as a study case

P.I. - who? when? where? why? what?

 Consensus - working with people to achieve consensus on large carnivore wood bison management plans (sharing case studies from Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovakia, Alaska, Yukon, Fenno-Scandinavia)

 Building trust and lasting relationships with all interest groups and First Nations – conservation doesn’t occur without trust and effective working relationships (e.g., Manitoba moose management, Scotland capercaillie conservation, Italy brown bear issues, protected areas management in Canada, Italy, and Romania)

 Understanding types of conflict and conflict resolution,

 Understanding and using the applied human dimensions facilitated workshop approach to gain consensus and achieve conservation solutions

 

22.12.12 Day 5 – wrap up day Agamon classroom 8:00-18:00

Decision-making in conservation management

 Understanding and addressing conflict and uncertainty

Integrating HD research to create applied conservation solutions

 The Four Phased Approach to Conservation developed by Alistair Bath

Wrap up: Putting it all together and workshop highlights.

 

Application instructions

To apply, please fill out the application form. No fees are due until you are accepted to the workshop:

Application form

Payment

External/International Students and Postdocs: 1350 NIS
Professionals / Academic Faculty / Other: 2700 NIS

 Cancellation policy

Cancellation of participation until December 11^th – 100% refund, (less bank transfer/credit card fees and registration fees).

Cancellation of participation between December 11^th and December 15^th – 50% refund (less bank transfer/credit card fees and registration fees).

Cancellation of participation after December 15^th – no refund.

Please note that the cancellation notice should be submitted in writing to [email protected] and approved by email by the workshop team.

Registration and payment – relevant link will be sent to the applicants by email.

*Opening of the workshop is subject to a minimum number of participants.

Eligibility:

This workshop is intended for third year students, academics, and professionals in governmental organizations and NGOs.

The workshop will be taught in English.

Students can obtain 2 credit points (subject to their home institution's approval).

For further information please contact: [email protected]