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Report2014Open access

Attitudes toward reintroduction of European bison (Bison bonasus) to Sweden

Bergsten, Axel

Abstract

The European bison (Bison bonasus) is no longer present in the wild fauna of Sweden. Reintroduction, an attempt to reestablish a viable population of a species in an area to which it is native, has been discussed. To make such an operation successful it is essential to know the attitudes of the stakeholders involved. This study has sensed the attitudes toward reintroducing E. bison to Sweden. It was done through a survey sent to the Wildlife Management Boards (Boards) and to landowners/farmers (Land users). A majority answered they would vote in favor of a reintroduction project. The most supported motives to reintroduce were if it would aid conservation of E. bison together with the species being native to Sweden. To Boards the primary motive not to reintroduce was if it would be at expense of the state. To Land users it was if E. bison would pose a traffic hazard. Those in Boards representing nature conservation held the most positive attitudes toward a reintroduction project. Those representing stakes with ties to consumptive land use held the least positive attitudes.

Keywords

european bison; bison bonasus; reintroduction; human dimensions; attitude

Published in

Rapport (Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Institutionen för vilt, fisk och miljö)
2014, number: 2014:3
Publisher: Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences