title: Social factors mediating human-carnivore coexistence: Understanding thematic strands influencing coexistence in Central Romania.
abstract: Facilitating human-carnivore coexistence depends on the biophysical environment but also on social factors. Focusing on Central Romania, we conducted 71 semi-structured interviews to explore human-bear (Ursus arctos) coexistence. Qualitative content and discourse analysis identified three socially mediated thematic strands, which showed different ways in which perceived interactions between people, bears and the environment shape coexistence. The "landscape-bear strand" described perceptions of the way in which the landscape offers resources for the bear, while the "landscape-human strand" related to ways in which humans experience the landscape. The "management strand" related to the way bears was managed. All three strands highlight both threats and opportunities for the peaceful coexistence of people and bears. Management and policy interventions could be improved by systematically considering the possible effects of interventions on each of the three strands shaping coexistence. Future research should explore the relevance of the identified thematic strands in other settings worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Scharnhorststraße 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany. ine.dorresteijn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ine
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dorresteijn
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Scharnhorststraße 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andra Ioana
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Milcu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Scharnhorststraße 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leventon
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Scharnhorststraße 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hanspach
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Scharnhorststraße 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Joern
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D012383:Romania; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D001503:Ursidae
keywords: Brown bear; Carnivore conservation; Conflict mitigation; Human–carnivore conflict; Human–nature relationships