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Dr Freya A. V. St. John

Reader

f.stjohn@bangor.ac.uk

+44 1248 388295

0000-0002-5707-310X

Dr Freya A. V. St. John

View Dr Freya A. V. St. John’s profile on the Bangor Research Portal

Overview

Before undertaking her PhD in understanding illegal resource use, Freya worked as a conservation practitioner in Greece and elsewhere for eight years. This sparked her interest in interdisciplinary research that seeks to understand people and their interactions with the natural world.

Freya is interested in understanding the links between human behaviour, wellbeing and conservation. Much of her research focuses on conservation conflict together with investigating the prevalence and drivers of peoples’ involvement in unlawful resource extraction. However, gathering robust data on rule-breaking directly from people is challenging. For this reason Freya’s work includes testing cutting-edge social science techniques for asking people sensitive questions. She also draws on disciplines such as development studies, social and cognitive psychology and criminology in order to strengthen levels of understanding on what drives conservation rule-breaking and the differing levels of tolerance people exhibit for co-existing with wildlife.

Freya’s group work on various issues including the conservation and livelihood implications of wild meat hunting and the social, heritage and economic value of intertidal collection and beach gathering activities.

Additional Contact Information

Dr Freya A. V. St. John

Reader in Conservation Science

Thoday Building, room G1

Email: f.stjohn@bangor.ac.uk

Website: http://www.conhub.org/

Tel: 01248 388295 (from UK)

+44 1248 388295 (international)

Research interests

  • Understanding illegal resource use
  • Conservation conflicts
  • Conservation and human wellbeing

Teaching and Supervision

PhD Students

Harriett Ibbett: Understanding rule-breaking in a conservation context, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University. Funded by ERC (Grant No. 755965)

Elizabeth Morris-Webb: Intertidal collection and beach gathering, School of Ocean Sciences & School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University. Funded by KESS 2 with www.marine-ecosol.com

Sorrell Jones: The influence of risk on patterns of illegal activity in a hunted landscape in West Liberia. Royal Holloway University of London (Dr Sarah Papworth), Edinburgh University (Dr Aidan Keane), Bangor University (Dr Freya St. John), RSPB (Dr Juliette Vickery)

Postgraduate Project Opportunities

I am willing to supervise a PhD

Publications

2022

  • PublishedExperimental Validation of Specialised Questioning Techniques in Conservation
    Ibbett, H., Dorward, L., Dwiyahreni, A. A., Jones, J. P. G., Kaduma, J., Kohi, E. M., Mchomvu, J., Prayitno, K., Sabiladiyni, H., Sankeni, S., Saputra, A. W., Supriatna, J. & St John, F. A. V., 22 Feb 2022, In: Conservation Biology.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedUse of Native Animals by Local Communities in Madagascar
    Robinson, J., Raharimalala, J., Bicknell, J., St John, F. A. V., Griffiths, R. A., Razafimanahaka, J. H. & Gardner, C. J., 1 Aug 2022, In: Environmental Challenges. 8, 100577.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2021

  • PublishedAsking sensitive questions in conservation using Randomised Response Techniques
    Ibbett, H., Jones, J. P. G. & St John, F. A. V., 1 Aug 2021, In: Biological Conservation. 260, 109191.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedDrivers of predator killing by rural residents and recommendations for fostering coexistence in agricultural landscapes
    Galvez, N., St John, F. A. V. & Davies, Z. G., 18 Nov 2021, In: Frontiers in Conservation Science. 12 p., 712044.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedImpact of palm oil sustainability certification on village well-being and poverty in Indonesia
    Santika, T., Wilson, K. A., Law, E. A., St John, F. A. V., Carlson, K. M., Gibbs, H., Morgans, C. L., Ancrenaz, M., Meijaard, E. & Struebig, M. J., Feb 2021, In: Nature Sustainability . 4, 2, p. 109–119
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedThe bean method as a tool to measure sensitive behavior
    Jones, S., Papworth, S., Keane, A., Vickery, J. & St John, F. A. V., Apr 2021, In: Conservation Biology. 35, 2, p. 722-732 11 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedThe role of risk perception and affect in predicting support for conservation policy under rapid ecosystem change
    St John, F. A. V., Mason, T. H. E. & Bunnefeld, N., Feb 2021, In: Conservation Science and Practice. 3, 2, e316.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedToward improved impact evaluation of community forest management in Indonesia
    Meijaard, E., Santika, T., Wilson, K. A., Budiharta, S., Kusworo, A., Law, E. A., Friedman, R., Hutabarat, J. A., Indrawan, T. P., St John, F. A. V. & Struebig, M., Jan 2021, In: Conservation Science and Practice. 3, 1, e2189.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

2020

  • PublishedAnalyzing procedural equity in government-led community-based forest management
    Friedman, R., Rhodes, J., Dean, A., Law, E., Santika, T., Budiharta, S., Hutabarat, J. A., Indrawan, T. P., Kusworo, A., Meijaard, E., St John, F. A. V., Struebig, M. & Wilson, K. A., Sep 2020, In: Ecology and Society. 25, 3, 16.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedBeyond the community in participatory forest management: A governance network perspective
    Friedman, R., Guerrero, R. S., McAllister, R. R. J., Rhodes, J., Santika, T., Budiharta, S., Indrawan, T. P., Hutabarat, J. A., Kusworo, A., Yogaswara, H., Meijaard, E., St John, F. A. V., Struebig, M. J. & Wilson, K. A., 1 Sep 2020, In: Land Use Policy. 97, 104738.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedConsequences of survey method for estimating hunters' harvest rates
    Jones, S. C. Z., Papworth, S. K., St John, F. A. V., Vickery, J. A. & Keane, A. M., Dec 2020, In: Conservation Science and Practice. 2, 12, e315.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2019

  • PublishedAudience segmentation to improve targeting of conservation interventions for hunters
    Jones, S., Keane, A., St John, F. A. V., Vickery, J. & Papworth, S., 30 Aug 2019, In: Conservation Biology. 33, 4, p. 895-905
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedExpanding the role of social science in conservation through an engagement with philosophy, methodology and methods
    Moon, K., Blackman, D. A., Adams, V. M., Colvin, R. M., Davila, F., Evans, M., Januchowski-Hartley, S. R., Bennett, N. J., Dickinson, H., Sandbrook, C., Sherren, K., St John, F. A. V., van Kerkhoff, L. & Wyborn, C., Mar 2019, In: Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 10, 3, p. 294-302 9 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedHeterogeneous impacts of community forestry on forest conservation and poverty alleviation: Evidence from Indonesia
    Santika, T., Wilson, K. A., Budiharta, S., Kusworo, A., Meijaard, E., Law, E. A., Friedman, R., Hutabarat, J. A., Indrawan, T. P., St John, F. A. V. & Struebig, M. J., 1 Jun 2019, In: People and Nature.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedIncentives and social relationships of hunters and traders in a Liberian bushmeat system
    Jones, S., Papworth, S., Keane, A., St John, F., Smith, E., Flomo, A., Nyamunue, Z. & Vickery, J., Sep 2019, In: Biological Conservation. 237, p. 338-347
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedValue diversity and conservation conflict: Lessons from the management of red grouse and hen harriers in England
    St John, F. A. V., Steadman, J., Austen, G. & Redpath, S. M., Mar 2019, In: People and Nature. 1, 1, p. 6-17
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2018

  • PublishedA spatially integrated framework for assessing socio-ecological drivers of carnivore decline
    Gálvez, N., Guillera-Arroita, G., St John, F. A. V., Schüttler, E., MacDonald, D. & Davies, Z., May 2018, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 55, 3, p. 1393-1405
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedAddressing human-tiger conflict using socio-ecological information on tolerance and risk
    Struebig, M. J., Linkie, M., Deere, N. J., Martyr, D. J., Milliyanawati, B., Faulkner, S. C., Le Comber, S. C., Mangunjaya, F. M., Leader-Williams, N., McKay, J. E. & St John, F. A. V., 27 Aug 2018, In: Nature Communications. 9, 3455.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedIntention to kill: Tolerance and illegal persecution of Sumatran tigers and sympatric species
    St John, F. A. V., Linkie, M., Martyr, D., Milliyanawati, B., McKay, J., Mangunjaya, F., Leader-Williams, N. & Struebig, M., 1 Jul 2018, In: Conservation Letters.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedPractitioner and scientist perceptions of successful amphibian conservation
    Meredith, H. M. R., St John, F. A. V., Collen, B., Black, S. A. & Griffiths, R. A., Apr 2018, In: Conservation Biology. 32, 2, p. 366-375
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedPublishing social science research in Conservation Biology to move beyond biology
    Teel, T. L., Anderson, C. B., Burgman, M. A., Cinner, J., Clark, D., Estevez, R. A., Jones, J. P. G., McClanahan, T. R., Reed, M. S., Sandbrook, C. & St John, F. A. V., Feb 2018, In: Conservation Biology. 32, 1, p. 6-8
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
  • PublishedTolerating tigers: Gaining local and spiritual perspectives on human-tiger interactions in Sumatra
    McKay, J., St John, F. A. V., Harihar, A., Martyr, D., Leader-Williams, N., Milliyanawati, B., Agustin, I., Anggriawan, Y., Karlina, K., Kartika, K., Mangunjaya, F., Struebig, M. & Linkie, M., 14 Nov 2018, In: PLoS ONE.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedUsing consumer preferences to characterize the trade of wild‐collected ornamental orchids in China
    Williams, S., Gale, S., Hinsley, A., Gao, J. & St John, F. A. V., Oct 2018, In: Conservation Letters. 11, 5, e12569.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
  • PublishedWildlife supply chains in Madagascar from local collection to global export
    Robinson, J., Fraser, I., St John, F. A. V., Randrianantoandro, J., Andriantsimanarilafy, R., Razafimanahaka, J. H., Griffiths, R. A. & Roberts, D. L., 1 Oct 2018, In: Biological Conservation. 226, p. 144-152
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2017

  • PublishedEstimating the Extent of CITES Noncompliance among Traders and End-Consumers: Lessons from the Global Orchid Trade
    Hindsley, A., Nuno, A., Ridout, M. & St John, F. A. V., Sep 2017, In: Conservation Letters. 10, 5, p. 602-609
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedSupplying the wildlife trade as a livelihood strategy in a biodiversity hotspot
    Robinson, J., Griffiths, R., Fraser, I., Raharimalala, J., Roberts, D. & St John, F. A. V., 21 Nov 2017, In: Ecology and Society. 23, 1, 13.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2016

  • PublishedChanging livelihoods and protected area management: a case study of charcoal production in south-west Madagascar
    Gardner, C. J., Gabriel, F. U. L., St John, F. A. V. & Davies, Z., Jul 2016, In: Oryx. 50, 3, p. 495-505
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedResearch ethics: Assuring anonymity at the individual level may not be sufficient to protect research participants from harm
    St. John, F. A. V., Brockington, D., Bunnefild, N., Duffy, R., Homewood, K., Jones, J. P. G., Keane, A. M., Milner-Gulland, E. J., Nuno, A. & Razafimanahaka, J. H., Apr 2016, In: Biological Conservation. 196, p. 208-209
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
  • PublishedToward a new understanding of the links between poverty and illegal wildlife hunting
    Duffy, R., St John, F. A. V., Buescher, B. & Brockington, D., 14 Jan 2016, In: Conservation Biology. 30, 1, p. 14-22
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2015

  • PublishedCaptive Reptile Mortality Rates in the Home and Implications for the Wildlife Trade
    Robinson, J., St John, F. A. V., Griffiths, R. A. & Roberts, D. L., 10 Nov 2015, In: PLoS ONE. e0141460.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedData collected using the randomised response technique must be analysed using specialised statistical methods
    Keane, A. M., Nuno, A. & St John, F. A. V., 2015, In: Biological Conservation. 187, p. 279-280
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
  • PublishedDynamics of the global trade in live reptiles: Shifting trends in production and consequences for sustainability
    Robinson, J., Griffiths, R. A., St John, F. A. V. & Roberts, D. L., Apr 2015, In: Biological Conservation. 184, p. 42-50
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedElephant conservation and corruption beyond the ivory trade
    Smith, R. J., Biggs, D., St John, F. A. V. & 't Sas-Rolfes, M., Jun 2015, In: Conservation Biology. 29, 3, p. 953-956
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
  • PublishedEvaluating deterrents of illegal behaviour in conservation: Carnivore killing in rural Taiwan
    St John, F. A. V., Mai, C-H. & Pei, K., Sep 2015, In: Biological Conservation. 189, p. 86-94
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedHow to ask sensitive questions in conservation: A review of specialized questioning techniques
    Nuno, A. & St John, F. A. V., Sep 2015, In: Biological Conservation. 189, p. 5-15
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedThe militarization of anti-poaching: undermining long term goals?
    Duffy, R., St John, F. A. V., Buescher, B. & Brockington, D., Dec 2015, In: Environmental Conservation. 42, 4, p. 345-348
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

2014

  • PublishedBiology's drones: Undermined by fear
    Humle, T., Duffy, R., Roberts, D. L., Sandbrook, C., St John, F. A. V. & Smith, R. J., 20 Jun 2014, In: Science. 344, 6190, p. 1351
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
  • PublishedEstimating the prevalence of researcher misconduct: a study of UK academics within biological sciences
    Roberts, D. L. & St John, F. A. V., 9 Sep 2014, In: PeerJ. e562.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedRobust study design is as important on the social as it is on the ecological side of applied ecological research
    St. John, F. A. V., Keane, A. M., Jones, J. P. G. & Milner-Gulland, E. J., Dec 2014, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 51, 6, p. 1479-1485
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2013

  • PublishedEffective conservation depends upon understanding human behaviour: Chapter 19
    St John, F. A. V., Keane, A. M. & Milner-Gulland, E., 5 Apr 2013, Key Topics in Conservation Biology 2. Macdonald, D. W. & Willis, K. J. (eds.). Wiley-Blackwell, p. 344-361
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
  • PublishedInnovative Techniques for Estimating Illegal Activities in a Human-Wildlife-Management Conflict
    Cross, P., St. John, F. A. V., Khan, S. & Petroczi, A., 16 Jan 2013, In: PLoS ONE. 8, 1, p. e53681
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedNew rhino conservation project in South Africa to understand landowner decision-making
    Smith, R. J., Roberts, D. L., Duffy, R. & St John, F. A. V., 19 Jul 2013, In: Oryx. 47, 3, p. 323
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
  • PublishedWildlife consumption and recall accuracy – but is it recall of hunting, of cooking or of eating?
    Newing, H. & St John, F. A. V., Dec 2013, In: Animal Conservation. 16, 6, p. 606-607
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

2012

  • PublishedIdentifying indicators of illegal behaviour: carnivore killing in human-managed landscapes
    St John, F., Keane, A., Edwards-Jones, G., Jones, L., Yarnell, R. W. & Jones, J. P. G., 22 Feb 2012, In: Proceedings of the royal Society B. 279, 1729, p. 804-812
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedOpinions of the public, conservationists and magistrates on sentencing wildlife trade crimes in the UK
    St John, F. A. V., Edwards-Jones, G. & Jones, J. P. G., Jun 2012, In: Environmental Conservation. 39, 2, p. 154-161
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2010

  • PublishedConservation and human behaviour: lessons from social psychology.
    St John, F., Edwards-Jones, G. & Jones, J. P. G., 22 Dec 2010, In: Wildlife Research. 37, 8, p. 658-667
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedTesting novel methods for assessing rule breaking in conservation.
    St John, F., Edwards-Jones, G., Gibbons, J. M. & Jones, J. P. G., 1 Apr 2010, In: Biological Conservation. 143, 4, p. 1025-1030
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Projects

  • HEFCW HEIR COVID extension to ECR bid (F007484, R37E13)

    01/04/2021 – 31/10/2021 (Finished)

  • National parks & people: Resolving the links between poverty and rule-breaking. WILDPOV (Grant No. 755965)

    01/06/2018 – 30/06/2024 (Active)

    Links:

    • https://www.bangor.ac.uk/natural-sciences/staff/freya-st-john/en#grants_and_projects
  • Understanding perceptions: Hen harrier brood management trial

    23/10/2017 – 17/08/2018 (Finished)

  • Investing in agroforestry options for forest restoration in Indonesia

    01/04/2017 – 08/09/2020 (Finished)

    Description

    Funder: Darwin Initiative, 2016 – 2019

    Researchers: Freya St. John with Mangara Silalahi (Burung Indonesia), Tom Swinfield (RSPB), Rhett Harrison (ICRAF), Aidan Keane (University of Edinburgh)

    Collaborators: Burung Indonesia, PT REKI, RSPB, ICRAF, University of Bangor, University of Edinburgh

    Project Description: Much of Indonesia’s forest cover has been logged (>80M ha) yet studies have shown that exhausted logging concessions harbour high levels of biodiversity and supply valuable ecosystem services, consequently, their restoration is a conservation priority. 49 million people, among the poorest in the country, live on forest margins. With limited livelihood options, many depend on clearing forests for agriculture with the uncertain hope of attaining land tenure. Harapan Rainforest is an Ecosystem Restoration Concession in Sumatra which has a 90 year license to restore 98,000 ha of logged forest. With many indigenous and migrant families living within the concession and clearing land for agriculture, the situation at Harapan typifies the challenges facing forest restoration in Indonesia. This interdisciplinary project will examine the likely win-win scenario of agroforestry which has the potential to provide valuable livelihood opportunities consistent with restoration and biodiversity objectives.

    Links:

    • https://www.bangor.ac.uk/natural-sciences/staff/freya-st-john/en#grants_and_projects
  • Marrying community land rights with stakeholder aspirations in Indonesian Borneo

    01/04/2017 – 01/08/2019 (Finished)

    Links:

    • https://www.bangor.ac.uk/natural-sciences/staff/freya-st-john/en#grants_and_projects

Other Grants and Projects

Project: Resolving the links between poverty and rule-breaking in conservation

Funder: European Research Council Starting Grant, 2018 - 2023

Researchers: Freya St. John, Corinna Van Cayzeele, Leejiah Dorward, Harriet Ibbett

Poverty is frequently perceived to be the root cause of illegal natural resource use – the hunting or extraction of wildlife not sanctioned by the state. When unsustainable, such activities threaten conservation of ecosystems and endangered species. However, understanding what motivates individuals involved is a major challenge; understandably few are willing to discuss their motives for fear of punishment. Furthermore, severe, multifaceted poverty overlaps with regions prioritised for their globally important biodiversity. This association exacerbates the problem that illegal activities pose for policy-makers responsible for managing and policing the use of nature. The dominant approach to conserving biodiversity is to establish protected areas which typically restrict resource use and manage infractions through law enforcement. However, the designation of such areas does not guarantee compliance, as demonstrated by ongoing infractions and its conspicuous profile on global policy agendas. This includes the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which calls for urgent action to halt biodiversity loss and hunting of protected species. Solving this problematic cocktail of poverty, exclusion from resources and drivers of illegal resource use requires a new approach to understanding why people break rules and to what extent poverty underpins behaviour. This project will draw on concepts from a range of disciplines, including development studies, criminology and psychology, to improve our understanding of why people break rules and to what extent poverty underpins their behaviour.

Project: Investing in agroforestry options for forest restoration in Indonesia

Funder: Darwin Initiative, 2016 – 2019

Researchers: Freya St. John with Mangara Silalahi (Burung Indonesia), Tom Swinfield (RSPB), Rhett Harrison (ICRAF), Aidan Keane (University of Edinburgh)

Collaborators: Burung Indonesia, PT REKI, RSPB, ICRAF, University of Bangor, University of Edinburgh

Project Description: Much of Indonesia’s forest cover has been logged (>80M ha) yet studies have shown that exhausted logging concessions harbour high levels of biodiversity and supply valuable ecosystem services, consequently, their restoration is a conservation priority. 49 million people, among the poorest in the country, live on forest margins. With limited livelihood options, many depend on clearing forests for agriculture with the uncertain hope of attaining land tenure. Harapan Rainforest is an Ecosystem Restoration Concession in Sumatra which has a 90 year license to restore 98,000 ha of logged forest. With many indigenous and migrant families living within the concession and clearing land for agriculture, the situation at Harapan typifies the challenges facing forest restoration in Indonesia. This interdisciplinary project will examine the likely win-win scenario of agroforestry which has the potential to provide valuable livelihood opportunities consistent with restoration and biodiversity objectives.

Project: Marrying community land rights with stakeholder aspirations in Indonesian Borneo

Funder: Darwin Initiative, 2016 – 2019  

Researchers: Matthew Struebig (University of Kent) and Freya St. John

Collaborators: Fauna and Flora International Indonesia programme, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Borneo Futures, University of Queensland

Project Description: Community forest management (CFM) is championed as a way to benefit local livelihoods and forest conservation, and Indonesia recognises this as part of its efforts to reduce poverty. Growing decentralisation and policy reform now supports community-based management throughout Indonesia, where the government aims to reallocate 12.7 Mha of state forest to poor indigenous communities. While these reforms support human rights and could alleviate poverty, counter-intuitively they also allow communities to clear forest. The governments' plan to improve rural wellbeing thus risks compromising the very ecosystems and biodiversity on which its people depend. By producing spatial datasets and developing case-studies within CFM areas this project aims to assess the impact of CFM on wellbeing and build the capacity of local governments of Kalimantan to better incorporate environmental and developmental needs into their spatial land-use planning processes.

Project: Novel approaches to resolving conflicts over human livelihoods and biodiversity conservation: People and rising geese populations in Scotland

Funder: University of Kent Faculty of Social Science, 2016 – 2017

Researchers: Freya St. John with Nils Bunnefeld (University of Stirling)

Project Description: Conflicts between those interested in using versus conserving biodiversity are widely recognised as both damaging to human livelihoods and biodiversity and are increasing in scope and scale. Yet, despite this recognition, there is a lack of theory to help guide the resolution of these problematic issues. The aim of this project is to develop a novel conceptual and analytical model to resolve conflicts over biodiversity conservation and human livelihoods. Working on the island of Islay, this project will investigate issues associated with the management of geese numbers which impose costs on the island’s farmers.

Project: Tolerating tigers: Do local beliefs offset human-carnivore conflicts? 

Funder: Leverhulme Trust, 2014 – 2017

Researchers: Freya St. John with Matthew Struebig (University of Kent), Jeanne Mckay (FFI-Indonesia Programme), Matthew Linkie (WCS)

Collaborators: Fauna and Flora International Indonesia Programme; University of Cambridge; Universitas Nasional (UNAS) Jakarta

Project Description: Large carnivores that cause loss of human life or livelihoods are frequently killed in retribution. However, religious or spiritual beliefs may encourage local tolerance of such conflicts. To date, conservation biologists and social scientists have not tested this aspect of human-wildlife conflict within a quantitative and interdisciplinary framework. A long-term case study of Sumatran tigers living close to Islamic farming communities allows us to explore both ecological and social determinants of such conflicts. Taken together, these data will provide timely insights into the drivers of tiger conflict, and allow us to better understand how to strengthen tolerance towards dangerous wildlife.

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