Living with the wolf A Luhmannian perspective on the human-wolf conflict in Redes Natural Park, Spain Isabeau Ottolini April 2018 MSc Thesis CPT-81330 Living with the wolf A Luhmannian perspective on the human-wolf conflict in Redes Natural Park, Spain Written by: Isabeau Romaine Ottolini Registration number: 920204-633-010 Contact: [email protected] Submission date: 23th of April, 2018 Written for: Wageningen University and Research Master Development and Rural Innovation Strategic Communication Chair Group Course code: CPT-81330 Supervisors: Arjaan Pellis & Dr.ir. Jasper de Vries Examiner: Dr. ir. JM (Annemarie) van Paassen Image title page: Patricia Ropohl. The Iberian wolf in the ever-changing environment i | P a g e Abstract In present day many rural areas across the world suffer from issues such as rural depopulation and land abandonment. Whilst such issues are generally seen as negative, it can have positive effects, such as giving space for the comeback of wild nature. Nonetheless, this can lead to an increase in interactions between humans and wildlife. Sometimes such interactions are called “human-wildlife conflicts” when resulting in negative impacts on involved humans and/or wildlife. Such is also the case with the human-wolf conflict. This is often framed as a conflict that emerges due to depredation of wolves upon livestock, and great efforts are dedicated to resolving the conflict. However, scientific literature points out that human-wolf conflicts continue to endure despite such efforts. Hence, instead of proposing solutions or asking why current solutions are ineffective in resolving the conflict, this thesis proposes a new way of looking at such conflicts by making use of Luhmann’s Social Systems Theory and relating it to the concepts of human-wildlife conflicts and coping strategies. Through a case study in Redes Natural Park, Spain, and making use of interviews and participant observation, data has been collected to research how the human-wolf conflict becomes constructed through communications, and what role coping strategies pay therein. This research shows that the human-wolf conflict englobes a multiplicity of aspects, thereby going beyond traditional conceptualisations of the conflict, i.e. wolf eating livestock. Instead, it can be considered as a many-headed monster built upon contrasting discourses that include aspects such as changes in people their ways of life, rural-urban dichotomy, top-down approaches, struggles in the livestock sector and the role of politics and the media. Whilst in the past the conflict might have indeed consisted of wolves preying on livestock, over the years the conflict has grown, contaminating surrounding discourses and integrating these into an ever larger conflict discourse. In turn, actors engage in diverse coping strategies to deal with the uncertainties related to the conflict. However, these strategies mainly provide more fuel for the conflict to endure over time, instead of solving it. Hence, the conceptualisation of the conflict and the coping strategies employed to deal with it are related: as the conflict is conceptualised through communicative actions, different coping strategies emerge, proliferate or perish, which in turn (re)shape the conflict. As a result, the conflict discourse changes shape, size and contents over time. All in all, this research provides a novel way in which conflicts can be researched and understood. Furthermore, it leads to the realisation that we, both the actors in the field and scientists researching the conflict, must be critical of what we do in relation to the conflict, and be more aware of the key role our communicative acts play in the emergence and proliferation of conflicts. Keywords: human-wolf conflict, coping strategies, communications, Social Systems Theory, rural depopulation, Spain. ii | P a g e Resumen En el presente muchas zonas rurales padecen de desafíos como la despoblación rural o el abandono de terrenos agrícolas. Mientras que estos generalmente son percibidos como algo negativo, pueden conllevar efectos positivos, como permitir el regreso de la naturaleza salvaje. Sin embargo, puede llevar a un aumento en las interacciones entre fauna silvestre y los humanos, que son vistos como conflictos cuando resultan en efectos negativos sobre humanos y/o la fauna silvestre. Tal es el caso con el conflicto entre lobos y humanos. Esto a menudo se considera como un conflicto que surge debido a la depredación de lobos sobre el ganado, y se realizan grandes esfuerzos para resolver tal conflicto. Sin embargo, la literatura científica señala que este tipo de conflicto siguen perdurando, a pesar de los esfuerzos realizados. Por lo tanto, en lugar de proponer soluciones o preguntar por qué las soluciones actuales no logran resolver el conflicto, esta tesis propone una nueva forma para mirar a los conflictos, haciendo uso de la Teoría de los Sistemas Sociales de Luhmann y relacionándola con los conceptos de conflicto entre humanos y vida silvestre y estrategias de afrontamiento. A través de un estudio de caso en el Parque Natural de Redes, España, y usando las entrevistas y la observación participación, se recopilaron datos para investigar cómo se construye el conflicto del lobo a través de las comunicaciones, y qué papel juegan las estrategias de afrontamiento. Esta investigación muestra que el conflicto entre humanos y lobos engloba una multiplicidad de aspectos, yendo más allá de las conceptualizaciones tradicionales del conflicto, es decir, el del lobo comiendo el ganado. En su lugar, se puede considerar el conflicto como un monstruo con múltiples cabezas, basado sobre discursos contrastantes que incluyen aspectos como cambios en las formas de vida, la dicotomía rural-urbana, el enfoque “top-down”, desafíos en el sector ganadero y el papel de la política y los medios de comunicación. Mientras que en el pasado el conflicto pudo haber consistido principalmente en los lobos comiendo el ganado, a lo largo de los años el conflicto ha crecido, contaminando los discursos circundantes e integrándolos en un discurso de conflicto cada vez más amplio. A su vez, los actores se involucran en diversas estrategias de afrontamiento para enfrentar las incertidumbres que emergen a partir del conflicto. Sin embargo, estas estrategias, en vez de resolverlo, proporcionan más combustible para que el conflicto perdure en el tiempo. Por lo tanto, la conceptualización del conflicto y las estrategias de afrontamiento están relacionadas: a medida que el conflicto se conceptualiza a través de las acciones comunicativas, surgen, proliferan o perecen diferentes estrategias de afrontamiento que, a su vez, (re)configuran el conflicto. Como resultado, el discurso del conflicto cambia de forma, tamaño y contenido a lo largo del tiempo. En último lugar, esta investigación ofrece una nueva manera para investigar y llegar a entender los conflictos. Además, lleva a la comprensión de que nosotros, tanto los actores en el campo y los científicos que investigan el conflicto, debemos ser críticos sobre lo que hacemos en relación al conflicto y ser más conscientes del papel fundamental que desempeñan nuestros actos comunicativos en la aparición y proliferación de conflictos. Palabras clave: conflicto humano-lobo, estrategias de afrontamiento, comunicaciones, teoría de los sistemas sociales, despoblación rural, España. iii | P a g e Foreword Ever since my earliest memories I have been fascinated with nature and wildlife, including the wolf. For many years now I have felt a deep sense of connection with this large carnivore, seeing it as a symbol of wild, untamed nature I so much love. In the past my interest in the species led me to learn more about its biology, conservation and the conflict that exists between humans and wolves. However, over the years certain academic choices eventually directed me away from the wolf. Then, about a year ago, I had to start making choices about my MSc thesis. Whilst I had no intention whatsoever to rekindle my passion for the wolf, there it was one day: the idea to research the conflict I had been hearing about for so many years. Aware of my personal biases, I commenced this adventure with great enthusiasm, but also with considerable caution. Looking back, I am very happy for the choices I took, as this research and its perspective on the human-wolf conflict has provided me with a profound knowledge on the issue, in addition to being able to see similar workings of conflict discourses in other conflicts I encounter in my professional and personal life. Thus, I can now present with pride this Master Thesis. And looking back at the entire process of doing my thesis, I feel incredibly grateful. This feeling of gratitude comes from the fact that so many amazing people have been there for me along the way, helping with the thousand-and- one worries, giving good advice, telling me they believe I can do it, listening to me... Without them, going through the entire process of writing an MSc thesis would have been much harder. Where to start with thanking people? My supervisors, who always tried to make me go further, try harder, be more creative, and especially, to be confident in my research and myself. The Thesis Ring, with all their support, enthusiasm, and feedback. My classmates, professors, and friends, who continuously showed their interest in my topic of research, and believed in me when I certainly did not. A dear housemate, for sticking together in the good and the bad times and was always in for a long walk or dinner together. A treasured friend, for making me feel less alone when everything seemed to fall apart. I would also like to thank all the amazing people I met during my fieldwork, for their enthusiastic participation and for offering me a deeper understanding, not only of the research topic, but also their traditions and values. I feel deep gratitude for all those who have welcomed me into their homes and lives, entrusting me with their hopes and fears, dreams and worries.