10.5061/DRYAD.XPNVX0KH4
Ditmer, Mark
0000-0003-4311-3331
Colorado State University
Niemiec, Rebecca
Colorado State University
Wittemyer, George
Colorado State University
Crooks, Kevin
Colorado State University
Socio-ecological drivers of public conservation voting: restoring gray
wolves to Colorado, USA
Dryad
dataset
2021
2021-12-29T00:00:00Z
2021-12-29T00:00:00Z
en
497319 bytes
2
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Understanding factors that influence real-world public conservation
behaviors is critical for developing successful conservation policies and
management actions. Citizens of Colorado, USA recently passed a ballot
initiative to restore the gray wolf to its former range within the state.
The >3 million votes offer an unprecedented opportunity to test
factors that influenced decisions to support or oppose this conservation
action. We created spatial linear regression models to assess the
relationship between support for wolf restoration and 1) the presidential
vote, 2) distance to conservation intervention (i.e., proposed wolf
reintroduction and existing wolves), and measures of 3) livelihood and 4)
demographics using precinct-level data. Our results demonstrate the strong
relationship between support for wolf restoration and political support
for the Democratic candidate for president in the 2020 election, and
highlights how other factors, including increased age, participation in
elk hunting, and proximity to the reintroduction region were associated
with less support. Our findings underscore the critical role of
politicization on public conservation action and the need to develop
outreach and engagement strategies to mitigate polarization.