title: Local Perspectives on Environmental Insecurity and Its Influence on Illegal Biodiversity Exploitation.
abstract: Environmental insecurity is a source and outcome of biodiversity declines and social conflict. One challenge to scaling insecurity reduction policies is that empirical evidence about local attitudes is overwhelmingly missing. We set three objectives: determine how local people rank risk associated with different sources of environmental insecurity; assess perceptions of environmental insecurity, biodiversity exploitation, myths of nature and risk management preferences; and explore relationships between perceptions and biodiversity exploitation. We conducted interviews (N = 88) with residents of Madagascar's Torotorofotsy Protected Area, 2014. Risk perceptions had a moderate effect on perceptions of environmental insecurity. We found no effects of environmental insecurity on biodiversity exploitation. Results offer one if not the first exploration of local perceptions of illegal biodiversity exploitation and environmental security. Local people's perception of risk seriousness associated with illegal biodiversity exploitation such as lemur hunting (low overall) may not reflect perceptions of policy-makers (considered to be high). Discord is a key entry point for attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America.
authors.forename: Meredith L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gore
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lute
authors.affiliation: Groupe d'Etude et de Recherche sur les Primates de Madagascar (GERP), Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Jonah H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ratsimbazafy
authors.affiliation: Malagasy Biologist Association, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Andry
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rajaonson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D008270:Madagascar; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011639:Public Opinion; D012931:Social Environment; D055815:Young Adult