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The emergence of biodiversity conflicts from biodiversity impacts: characteristics and management strategies

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Abstract

Conflicts between the conservation of biodiversity and other human activities occur in all habitats and can impact severely upon socio-economic and biological parameters. In a changing environment, with increasing pressure on ecosystem goods and services and increasing urgency for biodiversity conservation, these conflicts are likely to increase in importance and magnitude and negatively affect biodiversity and human well-being. It is essential, however, to better understand what is meant by ‘biodiversity conflicts’ in order to develop ways to manage these effectively. In view of the complexity of the social and ecological contexts of conflicts, this paper explores ‘biodiversity impacts’ linked to agricultural, forestry and other sectoral activities in the UK. The paper then describes the transition from ‘biodiversity impacts’ to ‘biodiversity conflicts’, illustrating this concept with specific examples. While generalisations relating to conflict management are made difficult by their unique contextual settings, this paper suggests approaches for their management, based on the experiences of scientists who have been involved in managing conflicts. We consider the role of science and scientists; trust and dialogue; and temporal and spatial scales in biodiversity conflicts and highlight the combined role they play in successful biodiversity conflict management. Recommendations are also made for future research on biodiversity conflicts in a changing environment.

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Acknowledgments

This paper is based on the results of a pilot systematic review funded by DEFRA’s Living with Environmental Change (LWEC) Objective B (environment) programme and builds on the results of the BIOFORUM project (European Biodiversity Forum—Implementing the Ecosystem Approach—Project EVK2-CT-1999-2006). This research was informed by Project 3b of the UK Population Biology Network, Sustainable Livelihoods Programme, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. The authors wish to thank all participants of the BIOFORUM project for their expertise and support. Finally, the authors wish to thank Alice Broome, Adam Vanbergen and an anonymous reviewer for their useful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, UK

    Juliette C. Young, David N. Carss & Allan D. Watt

  2. Forest Research, Centre for Human and Ecological Sciences, Forest Research Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY, UK

    Mariella Marzano & Christopher P. Quine

  3. School of Geography and Geosciences, Irvine Building, University of St Andrews, North Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AL, UK

    Rehema M. White

  4. Land Economy & Environment Research Group, Scottish Agricultural College, Auchincruive, Ayr, KA6 5HW, UK

    David I. McCracken

  5. Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), University of Aberdeen & Macaulay Institute, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK

    Steve M. Redpath

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  1. Juliette C. Young
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Young, J.C., Marzano, M., White, R.M. et al. The emergence of biodiversity conflicts from biodiversity impacts: characteristics and management strategies. Biodivers Conserv 19, 3973–3990 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-010-9941-7

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