USFWS/NCTC Human Dimensions in Conservation NCTC Podcasts

Poaching, trafficking, and illegal harvest are all terms used in discussing wildlife crime. While they refer to different actions along the supply chain, these terms are all central to the issue of non-compliance with rules and regulations put in place to support the long-term survival of plant and animal species. Wildlife crime has cascading negative effects on wildlife and people: it reduces biodiversity and can damage entire ecosystems, threatens livelihoods in rural communities, weakens global security, and robs countries that rely on wildlife for tourism of assets and revenue. This podcast is a follow up to our broadcast, “Combating Wildlife Crime: Toward an Integrated Approach”, which provides an overview of the need for and application of social science to holistically address wildlife crime. In this podcast, Dr. Meredith Gore, Associate Professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University, and Dr. Christine Browne, Human Dimensions Team Lead at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Natural Resource Program Center, delve deeper into social science considerations for this topic, including the needs, methods, the benefits for addressing this national and global conservation priority.

The issues we face in conservation and natural resource management are complex and cut across jurisdictions, disciplines, organizations, and boundaries. Collaborating with others can be challenging, especially when our neighbors have different interests and needs or there is a history of conflict. However, when we work to find common ground and focus on relationships, collaboration can generate creative and durable solutions to some of our most difficult conservation problems. In this podcast, we dive into key aspects of collaborative conservation, a term often used to describe work with private landowners, state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and others to achieve collective impacts. We hear from Heidi Keuler, Fish Habitat Biologist and Fishers and Farmers Partnership Coordinator, and Todd Sutphin from the Iowa Soybean Association about their experiences with the collaborative process.

Landscape-scale conservation enables conservation professionals to understand the biological and social factors at work across a broad range of traditional geopolitical boundaries. With a solid understanding of these factors comes the ability to make sound management decisions based on desired future conditions. However, even the most informed decisions rely on the support of local stakeholders to become successful on the ground. Join host Brad Milley from the National Wildlife Refuge System and Dr. Catherine Doyle-Capitman as they discuss the different scales at which conservation occurs and the importance of integrating local stakeholder participation and social data into collaborative landscape conservation planning.

The conservation community is talking a lot about barriers to hunting, especially for people living in urban areas and those who are underrepresented in the activity, including people of color and women. But what if the hunter stereotype itself is the biggest barrier? Join hosts Tylar Greene and Kaylin Clements from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as they discuss the complex culture of hunting with Dr. Lincoln Larson, who is conducting research on the topic, and Black Wolf Hunting Club founder Eric Morris, who's dedicated his life to promoting hunting in the black community and engaging people in the outdoors.

Join Natalie Sexton, Tylar Greene, and Kristen Gilbert as they discuss the journey that the US Fish and Wildlife Service has taken in transforming its brand, purpose, and engagement strategies since its inception and what is important for you to know about current goals and effective strategies to engage Americans in recreation.

In this episode, we take a dive into the findings from the Nature of Americans study, an initiative led by Dr. Stephen Kellert and DJ Case and Associates to understand and connect Americans to nature. Our guests are Dave Case and Daniel Escher from DJ Case and Associates. Also check out our broadcast on this topic at https://fws.rev.vbrick.com/#/videos/8f7abcf6-42ca-4635-bd77-5a927acc1b32