Managing wolf impacts on sheep husbandry: a collaborative implementation and assessment of damage prevention measures in an agricultural landscape

• DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2023.1264166
• Publication Date: 2023-11-23T14:24:39Z
• Authors: Valeria Salvatori; Agnese Marino; Paolo Ciucci; Claudio Galli; Massimo Machetti; Edoardo Passalacqua; Simone Ricci; Giorgia Romeo; Fabio Rosso; Lucia Tudini
• Keywords: Animal Husbandry; Grassroots

Wolves in Europe are expanding their range and significantly impacting farming livelihoods landscapes. Damage prevention measures such as livestock guarding dogs night-time enclosures have proven successful mitigating losses. However, they often implemented top-down without a proper understanding of the dynamics meant to alter, making them unappealing difficult implement for farmers. Semi-extensive, small scale systems particularly vulnerable diverse, requiring specific care catered support when addressing issues related wildlife management. In these contexts, it is crucial employ adaptive management approaches that enable solutions be collaboratively designed at grassroots level. Here we propose method centring experiences knowledge local farmers co-produce damage practices better address needs. We developed this approach course LIFE MEDWOLF project, which was province Grosseto, Italy, between 2012 2017. The project brought together authorities, environmental associations, unions individual develop tailor-made assess technical economic impact, through stepwise process. Collaboration with 86 resulted >50 modifications original plan, an overall 50% reduction preyed farms participated project. Our findings highlight benefits designing, implementing, monitoring Based on results, reflect importance integrating scientific knowledge, implications has had stakeholder relations, challenges faced upscaling approach.