Sargent_et_al_2022_LionGame.xlsx

Data for:

Sargent, R., Rakotonarivo, O.S., Rushton, S.P., Cascio, B., Grau, A., Bell, A.R., Bunnefeld, N., Dickman, A. & Pfeifer, M. (2022) An experimental game to examine pastoralists' preferences for human-lion coexistence strategies. People and Nature.

Data includes anonymised game and questionnaire responses and variable descriptions.

Abstract

1. Reconciling conflicts between wildlife conservation and other human activities is a pervasive, multifaceted issue. Large carnivores, such as the African lion (Panthera leo) are often the focus of such conflicts as they have significant ecological and cultural value but impose severe social and financial costs on the communities that live alongside them.

2. To effectively manage human-lion conflict, it is vital to understand stakeholder decision-making and preferences regarding mitigation techniques and coexistence strategies.

3. We used a novel experimental game framed around lions and livestock protection, played across eight villages in Tanzania, to examine stakeholder behaviour in response to three incentive structures: support for non-lethal scaring, and individual- and community-level subsidies for provision of wildlife habitat. 

4. We found that non-lethal deterrent methods were the preferred mitigation strategy and that individual subsidies most increased the provision of wildlife habitat. Subsidies that were conditional on other community members’ decisions were less effective at increasing habitat choices. Player characteristics and attitudes appeared to have little influence on game behaviour. However, there was some evidence that gender, wealth, perceptions of respect, and the behaviour of other players affected decision-making. 

5. Achieving success in managing conservation conflicts requires genuine stakeholder participation leading to mutually beneficial results. Our findings suggest that, while incentive-based instruments can promote pro-conservation behaviour, these may be more effective when targeted at individuals rather than groups. We demonstrate how experimental games offer a practical and engaging approach that can be used to explore preferences and encourage discussion of conflict management.

本数据集对应研究：Sargent, R.、Rakotonarivo, O.S.、Rushton, S.P.、Cascio, B.、Grau, A.、Bell, A.R.、Bunnefeld, N.、Dickman, A. 与 Pfeifer, M.（2022）：《一项用于探究牧民对人狮共存策略偏好的实验博弈研究》，发表于《人与自然（People and Nature）》。
本数据集包含匿名化的博弈与问卷应答数据，以及变量说明文档。

摘要
1. 协调野生动物保护与其他人类活动间的冲突是一项普遍存在且兼具多面性的复杂议题。大型食肉动物（如非洲狮（Panthera leo））往往是这类冲突的核心焦点，它们兼具重要的生态与文化价值，但却给与之共存的社区带来了沉重的社会与经济负担。
2. 若要有效管控人狮冲突，理解利益相关方针对冲突缓解措施与共存策略的决策逻辑与偏好，是至关重要的前提。
3. 本研究以狮子与牲畜保护为框架设计了一款新颖的实验博弈，并在坦桑尼亚的8个村庄开展实验，以此探究利益相关方在三种激励机制下的行为表现：对非致命驱离措施的支持、以及为野生动物栖息地提供所设立的个人层面与社区层面补贴。
4. 研究结果显示，非致命威慑手段是博弈参与者最青睐的冲突缓解策略，且个人补贴最能提升野生动物栖息地的提供意愿。以其他社区成员决策为条件的补贴方案，在提升栖息地选择意愿方面效果欠佳。玩家的个体特征与态度似乎对博弈行为影响甚微，但有初步证据表明，性别、财富水平、对尊重的认知以及其他玩家的行为会对决策产生影响。
5. 要在保护冲突管理中取得成功，需要让利益相关方实现真正的参与，从而达成互利共赢的成果。本研究结果表明，尽管基于激励的管理工具能够推动亲保护行为，但如果针对个体而非群体实施，可能会更为有效。本研究证实，实验博弈是一种兼具实用性与参与性的研究方法，可用于探究偏好并推动冲突管理相关议题的讨论。