Human dimensions in Iberian wolf management in Portugal: attitudes and beliefs of interest groups and the public toward a fragmented wolf population

Most studies on wolves in Portugal have focused on biological issues although wolf management tends to be more socio-political in nature than biological. This is the first study of human dimensions in wolf management in Portugal. Understanding attitudes and knowledge about wolves and identifying the key issues of wolf management in the opinion of some interest groups (livestock owners, hunters, students, local residents, biologists, environmental NGOs, and members of the governmental Institute for the Conservation of Nature) that may have an important role in wolf management in Portugal were the main goals of this study. Attitudes of most groups are neutral but local residents are either negative or positive; knowledge is consistently low. All groups are willing to participate in wolf management decision-making, and they mention the presence of feral dogs, wolf poaching, poor wolf habitat, lack of environmental education programs, and lack of biological data as the most important issues. This study sets the direction for future public involvement processes at both the regional and national scale