title: Do Farmers Using Conventional and Non-Conventional Systems of Agriculture Have Different Perceptions of the Diversity of Wild Birds? Implications for Conservation.
abstract: Farmers' perceptions of birds' interactions with agricultural production systems are fundamental to species conservation efforts. In the present study, we evaluated the perceptions of birds held by farmers who engage in conventional and non-conventional agricultural production processes and the implications of potential differences in these perceptions on species conservation. To accomplish this, data were collected using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and other complementary sources of information gathered from 191 farmers in northeastern Brazil. Although some similarities were identified among the farmers in their perceptions and local ecological knowledge (LEK) of birds, differences existed between the conventional and non-conventional farmers in their attitudes toward, conflicts with, and usage of bird species. Compared to the conventional farmers, the non-conventional farmers could identify more bird species, possessed more favorable attitudes toward birds, and engaged in practices more beneficial to the conservation of avifauna. The perceptions that were identified were related to the type of agriculture practiced, and such perceptions may affect the conservation of bird species. Therefore, the adoption of certain agricultural practices has important implications for conservation. Our results indicate the need for investment in public policies, programs and actions that account for farmers' knowledge and perceptions. Such investments will contribute to the development and adoption of practices supporting wild bird conservation in agricultural areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Graduate Program in Ethnobiology and Nature Conservation - PPGEtno, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.|Garanhuns Campus, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Horasa Lima
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5366-6610
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Silva-Andrade
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Graduate Program in Ethnobiology and Nature Conservation - PPGEtno, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.|Garanhuns Campus, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano Pires
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Management of Sustainable Local Development, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lauana Souza
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Graduate Program in Ethnobiology and Nature Conservation - PPGEtno, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.|Garanhuns Campus, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wallace Rodrigues
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Telino-Júnior
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Graduate Program in Ethnobiology and Nature Conservation - PPGEtno, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.|Department of Biology, Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Social-Ecological Systems, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ulysses Paulino
authors.initials: UP
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Graduate Program in Ethnobiology and Nature Conservation - PPGEtno, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.|Garanhuns Campus, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rachel Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lyra-Neves
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000145:classification; D001290:Attitude; D001717:Birds / Q000145:classification; D001938:Brazil; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D000067565:Farmers / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception; D013045:Species Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires