Understanding Decision Process in Carnivore Conservation: Grizzly Bears in Banff National Park
Research associates Mike Gibeau and Murray Rutherford are working to improve the decision-making processes through which grizzly bear conservation policies are developed and implemented in Banff National Park and the Banff-Bow Valley region of southwestern Alberta, Canada. In order to do so, they are investigating the complex social process that shapes grizzly bear conservation initiatives in this region. There are several initiatives under way:
- Interviewing key stakeholders to gather information and develop a comprehensive conceptual map of the participants, their perspectives, their bases of power, and all of the other elements of the social process affecting grizzly bear conservation in the Banff-Bow Valley region. The results of this study will form a chapter in a proposed book on Learning Sustainability Through Large Carnivore Conservation, to be edited by Susan Clark and Murray Rutherford. In addition, Murray and Mike coauthored a paper along this same theme in the journal Policy Sciences. (See sidebar for the citation.)
- Gathering the claims and counterclaims that have been made about grizzly bear management in this region. This task will help to develop further insight into the perspectives, and particularly the demands and expectations, of participants in this policy arena.
- Conducted a Q-method study of the views of key stakeholders about the problem of grizzly bear conservation in this region. Q method allows participants to describe their subjective views about a subject of interest and helps to identify the issues about which there is dissent among participants, as well as the issues for which there may be opportunities for agreement. The first Q study concluded in 2003, and the second wrapped up in early 2009.
- Ongoing IPS (Interdisciplinary Problem Solving) workshops held in Banff, typically four times a year.