Need for a Conference
Impetus for a human dimensions approach to fisheries and wildlife management arose from necessity. Since the mid twentieth century, social conflict has pervaded the public trust decision environment. The managerial community’s search for assistance has led to the emergence of interest in the science and practice of HDFW. While HD professionals have become aware of the capabilities of an HD approach, they are also concerned with the growing pressure to show management relevance. A common refrain among those in the management community is “how can human dimensions information help me in making decisions?” Success in this area will depend on our ability to advance professionalism in HD science and practice. The conference organizers (see below) believe that this conference will provide a significant step toward addressing that challenge.
Interest in human dimensions of fisheries and wildlife in the U.S. can be traced to the early 1970s and has steadily grown in both academia and among practitioners. A few pioneering government agencies hired HD specialists in the 1980s, but the idea blossomed in the 1990s. Most fish and wildlife agencies in the U.S. now have at least one person who deals with HD issues. Most of these professionals are housed in agencies that have a strong biological and traditional utilitarian orientation. In this environment there are high expectations for what HD can accomplish. Human dimensions, however, is a relatively new area of practice and those assigned to HD positions often have on-going training needs. This new generation of practitioners faces a variety of problems, including: (a) professional isolation, (b) the lack of a strong network of fellow professionals that facilitate mutual reliance, opportunities for training and learning to advance needed HD skills, and (c) the availability of research findings that provide the substantive scientific base for informed decisions. These are the fundamental needs of a young, growing profession.
The 1990’s also witnessed a rapid expansion of HD in the international arena. What was once a concern primarily of governmental institutions, is now a function of many of the NGOs working internationally on human-wildlife issues. Marking this growth is an expansion of interest in HDFW among diverse social science disciplines and a recognition that important biodiversity and sustainability goals require a strong human component.
While the specific institutions, cultures, wildlife, and ecosystems may vary internationally and domestically, all HDFW related problems are similar. The consequences of human-wildlife interaction are often greater at the international level, but the processes of studying and examining these social problems have their roots in the same social science theories and practical experiences. Much can be learned by an exchange of scientific and practical information among those involved in HDFW at a global level. This exchange will be critical for building a coherent body of knowledge and understanding about human-wildlife relationships.
The realm of HDFW is highly diffuse and those working in this area come from a broad cross section of disciplines, departments, agencies and professional associations. It is thus appropriate and necessary that we begin to coalesce and advance the area of HDFW.