Stewart Barr

Wildlife reintroductions are socioecological processes entailing the intentional movement of organisms by people. In animal reintroductions, there is growing recognition of the importance of human dimensions and efforts to integrate these into reintroduction projects. To conceptually reframe reintroductions as processes of renewed coexistence (a coadaptive process through which sustainable human–wildlife interactions [HWIs] are fostered), we build upon existing understanding of HWIs and coexistence. Our conceptual framing acknowledges historical HWIs and recognizes that the reintroduced species may be new for people to coexist with today. This provides a long‐term, futures‐oriented perspective on reintroductions that goes beyond the return of an animal to fostering long‐term coexistence between humans and the reintroduced animal. This requires integration of social understandings and meaningful involvement of people from the outset and throughout feasibility, planning, and implementation. Further, we provide fresh insight on the subsequent transition phase by recognizing there to be a period where humans and reintroduced animals continue to coadapt as the situation transitions from a reintroduction project into a long‐term coexistence between humans and wild animals.

We recommend enhancing policy coordination of schooling and transport for achieving Net-Zero. To achieve this policy recommendation, we propose to take into account the following: (1) Education policy can adversely impact sustainable transport transitions; (2) Interactions between schooling and transport do not feature in policy and strategy; (3) Existing datasets fail to capture schooling as a component of the transport system; (4) Coordinating data creation and collation can enhance understandings of different sectors’ impacts on transport systems; and (5) Scaling-up existing areas of agreement over priorities and cooperation between actors can help to support sustainable transport transitions.

Green economic thinking has been established for over thirty years, with an emphasis on reducing the environmental impact of economic activities and mobilising technology to create efficiencies in the use resources. Yet the concept has come under sustained critique for adopting many of the assumptions of mainstream economics, including a focus on growth and neo-liberal modes of governance. This entry explores the origins and philosophy underpinning green economic thought and introduces the reader to the broad concept of the cultural green economy, which seeks to incorporate a broader framing of ‘economy’ to incorporate social, political, technological, infrastructural and economic factors that interact with the environment. Illustrations of how this broader and academically critical framing of the green economy can be helpful in promoting sustainable development are provided by an analysis at three different scales (markets, publics and place-based communities).

Private car use is a major contributor to global and local environmental pollution in the form of carbon emissions, poor air quality, excessive noise, building vibrations and traffic congestion. One way of reducing reliance on the private car is to promote forms of active travel (walking, cycling and running) and the use of public transport through behavioural change. This chapter outlines a theoretical and empirical approach to understanding commuter travel behaviour that integrates insights from social-psychological research on travel behaviour with sociological framings of everyday mobility. It demonstrates the ways in which commuting dynamics can be understood through adopting Bayesian statistical techniques, which assist in identifying the factors that influence decision making and the probability of travel mode shift on a daily basis. The research reveals the potential of targeted approaches to generate incremental shifts in travel behaviour, alongside significant structural barriers for encouraging more radical shifts in mobility.

Natural flood management (NFM) methods work with natural processes to reduce flood risk, while often providing additional benefits such as water quality improvement or habitat provision. Increasingly, the activity of an animal—beavers—is recognised to potentially provide flow attenuation, along with multiple benefits for the environment and society, but there can also be associated challenges. We use Q‐Methodology to elicit and understand human perspectives of beavers and their potential role in flood management among communities living downstream of beavers at three sites in England (Cornwall, Yorkshire and the Forest of Dean). This is the first time a study has focused on downstream communities as the primary stakeholders. We identify diverse perspectives that exhibit a range of value judgements. We suggest a catchment‐based approach to beaver management and public engagement may facilitate deeper recognition of contextual perspectives in decision‐making and enable knowledge dissemination with communities. Further, we examine the relationship between beavers and other NFM methods through these perspectives. In doing so we identify features that relate to the unique element of relying on the natural behaviour of beavers for flood management, rather than human flood managers being the primary decision‐makers.

Species reintroductions are growing in popularity, and example motivations include supporting species populations or the restoration of ecosystem function. Interactions between humans and the reintroduced species are likely to occur post-reintroduction. Coexistence between humans and wildlife is adaptive and dynamic, in part requiring management of conflicts between humans and wildlife, or of conflicts between humans over wildlife management. We seek to learn from the experiences of steering group members in a Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) project in England and identify how governance of coexistence with reintroduced species may differ from the governance of coexistence with species that are already present in the landscape. Using a qualitative thematic analysis of an online survey, we identify a series of lessons in six key areas: (1) project governance, (2) stakeholder engagement, (3) research and monitoring programme, (4) strategy to manage arising conflicts, (5) public engagement, and (6) broad perspectives on reintroduction trials. We advocate for reflective evaluation as an essential component of reintroduction projects to enable knowledge-sharing from experiences, leading to improved practices in the future. Reflecting on our analysis, we identify and define ‘Renewed Coexistence’—a new term that draws on pre-existing coexistence knowledge but identifies the unique elements that relate to governing coexistence with reintroduced species.

Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) reintroduction is taking place in England with potential benefits for flood alleviation and biodiversity; however there is also opposition. One area of controversy relates to fish and fishing. A previous meta-analysis of research into beaver-fish relationships found perceived benefits of beavers amongst fish and beaver “experts” included increased fish abundance and productivity, whilst perceived negatives included impeded fish passage and reduced spawning habitat availability. We further this understanding using Q-Methodology (a social science technique) to reveal three nuanced and contrasting perspectives that exist amongst the angling community in the catchment of a trial reintroduction. Due to a conflict potential between groups, we suggest management themes to help reduce this where reintroduction occurs: open, cross-sectoral dialogue about research into beaver-fish relationships and management; a management strategy which supports ecosystem benefits whilst providing a sense of empowerment for individuals to respond to negative impacts.

Social factors hold implications for the success or failure of wildlife reintroductions. Potential conflict issues may prevent projects from proceeding or succeeding. The manner in which wildlife managers engage with affected people in conflict scenarios may prevent or contribute toward conflict escalation, so an understanding of how to improve engagement is required. We conducted interviews with individuals who reported conflicts with beavers (Castor fiber) within the case study of a reintroduction trial in England, called the ‘River Otter Beaver Trial’. Using a qualitative thematic analysis, we identified five themes to be considered when engaging with affected people in beaver reintroduction conflicts: (1) Proactive Engagement or a Fast Response; (2) Appropriate Communication; (3) Shared Decision-Making; (4) Sense that Humans are Responsible for Conflicts with Reintroduced Species; (5) A Need for Certainty. We conclude that engagement with affected individuals will likely be improved, with reduced conflict potential, where these themes are addressed.