Mainstreaming human and large carnivore coexistence through institutional collaboration

Abstract

Achieving coexistence between large carnivores and humans in human-dominated landscapes (HDLs)is a key challenge for societies globally. This challenge cannot be adequately met with the current sectoralapproaches to HDL governance and an academic community largely dominated by disciplinary sectors. Academia(universities and other research institutions and organizations) should take a more active role in embracing societalchallenges around conservation of large carnivores in HDLs by facilitating cross-sectoral cooperation to mainstreamcoexistence of humans and large carnivores. Drawing on lessons from populated regions of Europe, Asia, and SouthAmerica with substantial densities of large carnivores, we suggest academia should better embrace the principlesand methods of sustainability sciences and create institutional spaces for the implementation of transdisciplinarycurricula and projects; reflect on research approaches (i.e., disciplinary, interdisciplinary, or transdisciplinary)they apply and how their outcomes could aid leveraging institutional transformations for mainstreaming; andengage with various institutions and stakeholder groups to create novel institutional structures that can respondto multiple challenges of HDL management and human-large carnivore coexistence. Success in mainstreamingthis coexistence in HDL will rest on the ability to think and act cooperatively. Such a conservation achievement,if realized, stands to have far-reaching benefits for people and biodiversity. Show more