BINATIONAL COLLABORATION IN RECOVERY OF ENDANGERED SPECIES: THE MEXICAN WOLF AS A CASE STUDY A Dissertation by JOSE F. BERNAL STOOPEN Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY May 2004 Major Subject: Wildlife and F Major Subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences © 2004 JOSE F. BERNAL STOOPEN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BINATIONAL COLLABORATION IN RECOVERY OF ENDANGERED SPECIES: THE MEXICAN WOLF AS A CASE STUDY A Dissertation by JOSE F. BERNAL STOOPEN Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved as to style and content by: _________________________ _________________________ Jane M. Packard William E. Grant (Chair of Committee) (Member) _________________________ _________________________ Tarla R. Peterson James M. Jensen (Member) (Member) _________________________ __________________________ Richard P. Reading Robert D. Brown (Member) (Head of Department) May 2004 Major Subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences iii ABSTRACT Binational Collaboration in Recovery of Endangered Species: The Mexican Wolf as a Case Study. (May 2004) Jose F. Bernal Stoopen, M.V.Z., Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana - Xochimilco Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Jane M. Packard The goal of this inductive study was to identify factors that facilitate and inhibit binational collaboration in the recovery of endangered species in the northern Mexico borderlands, focusing on the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi). A conceptual model was developed using qualitative techniques, providing the basis for design of a mail survey. The target population included participants with experience in recovery efforts for over a dozen species at risk in the region. Long interviews were recorded with 44 participants from Mexico and the United States. Thematic hierarchical analysis was used to develop a conceptual model of how interviewees talked about factors influencing binational collaboration. Issues were classified in five thematic clusters: project, organization, people, resources, culture/history. The survey was used to conduct a needs assessment, measuring respondents’ attitudes about the relative priority of issues identified in the conceptual model. High priority needs were identified from each thematic cluster: (a) equitable participation in iv project design and implementation, (b) continuity of personnel, (c) coordination of federal, state and local efforts, (d) increased funding, managed with accountability, and (e) exchange visits to facilitate understanding of diverse perspectives. Responses to almost half the survey items indicated accord among the sample of respondents, providing a basis for shared common ground. The nature of discord was within the range of “manageable”, with no clear polarization of attitudes measured. This exploratory data analysis suggested that the structure of the conceptual model developed from the Mexican wolf case study was generally a valid basis for future deductive analysis and reflection by practitioners. For 82% of 22 statements of need, priorities of participants in the Mexican wolf recovery efforts did not differ significantly from other respondents. Nationality (of respondents) significantly affected priority rankings for only 18% of the need statements. Significant effects of five demographic variables indicated that interactive effects should be examined in future multivariate analyses to determine how respondents’ attitudes on issues related to priority rankings. Recommendations were provided for a more efficient and effective approach to collaborative problem-solving, engaging reflective practitioners from the private and public sectors in principled negotiation processes to better understand diverse perspectives. v DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my loving wife Lorie Mc Cracken Ortega, my daughters Ana Sofía and Danielle and son José Mariano. It is dedicated to my father Francisco José Bernal and my mother Mireille Stoopen de Bernal. Also, I extend this dedication to my sisters Mireille and Aline and my brothers Germán, Javier, Jean Paul and Yves. I also dedicated it to all my friends in Mexico, the United States and other countries. I want to dedicate this dissertation to Josefa, Carlos and Zapita, who were the first Mexican wolves I met and who introduced me to this unique world of protecting and conserving Mexican wolves and other highly endangered species. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank so many individuals and institutions that supported me with their friendship and logistical help during this very important stage of my personal and professional life. I am very grateful to members of my graduate advisory committee, Dr. Tarla Peterson, Dr. William Grant and Dr. James Jensen of Texas A&M University (TAMU). I specially thank Dr. Richard Reading of the Denver Zoological Society who supported me as an advisor and as my very good friend. My sincere gratitude is extended to Dr. Jane M. Packard, who was with me every step of the way, who inspired me and gave me the strength to complete this journey. Her kindness, wisdom and experience has been fundamental during these past years. To all, thank you very much. I would also like to thank the following institutions that provided me with financial and logistical support to pursue my graduate studies at TAMU: Conacyt / Fulbright Fellowship, Wildlife Conservation Society, Earth Promise Family of Funds, Lincoln Park Zoo Neotropical Fund, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center and the Denver Zoological Society. Thanks are extended to the following organizations, for facilitating the development of this research: Dirección General de Vida Silvestre, Semarnat, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Dirección General de Zoológicos de la Ciudad de México, Zoológico de Chapultepec, Zoológico de San Juan de Aragon, Zoológico Africam Safari, Zoológico de Zacango, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, vii Naturalia, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Denver Zoo, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, the Houston Zoo, Preserve Arizona Wolves Organization (PAWS) and the Wild Canid Survival and Research Center. My sincere gratitude is extended to the members of the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan, in addition to all interviewees and survey participants from this study. Thank you for sharing your insights and helping me understand that no problem can be defined appropriately if all perspectives are not considered. Special thanks are due to Dr. William Conway, Dr. Ed Spevak and Dr. Fred Koontz from the Wildlife Conservation Society, Mr. John Wortman, Brian and Karina Miller from the Denver Zoological Foundation, Mr. Peter Siminski from the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Mr. David Parsons and Wendy Brown from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ……………….…………………………………………………………..iii DEDICATION………….………………………………...........…………………………v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……………………………………………………….......vi TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………………...…viii LIST OF FIGURES ………………....………………………………………...………xi LIST OF TABLES ……………………….....……………………………….……....xii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION.....……………………………………………………….…..1 Problem Definition....................................................................................1 Theoretical Perspectives on Conflict Management ...............................5 Application of Theoretical Perspectives to Endangered Species Recovery...............................................................................................14 Goal and Objectives.................................................................................15 II UNDERSTANDING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES............................................18 Introduction .............................................................................................18 Mexican Wolves ...........................................................................18 Mexican Wolf Recovery Efforts.....................................................20 Purpose and Significance of this Case Study.................................23 Methods...................................................................................................25 Sampling Design............................................................................25 Interview Procedures......................................................................26 Content Analysis............................................................................28 Results .....................................................................................................29 Stakeholders...................................................................................30 Conceptual Model of Issue Clusters...............................................31 Issues within Clusters.....................................................................33 ix CHAPTER Page Discussion.................................................................................................78 Conceptual Model of Issue Clusters................................................78 Issues within Clusters......................................................................80 Application to Design of a Needs Assessment Survey....................95 Qualitative Summary……………............................................................96 III NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR RECOVERY EFFORTS...............................…..99 Introduction..............................................................................................99