Farmer survey wildlife value orientation & crop damage tolerance

Compensation is a common strategy to alleviate financial losses caused by
wildlife, but its effects on farmers’ tolerance towards damage to crops
caused by wildlife are poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap,
we conducted semi-structured interviews in three areas in and around
Biosphere Reserves in Sweden and Germany to examine farmers’ appraisals of
wildlife-related crop damage and their evaluation of financial
compensation in relation to crop damage prevention measures. We found that
tolerated yield loss was higher and more variable with compensation
compared to a scenario without compensation. Yet, also under a scenario of
full financial compensation, farmers tolerated a median of less than 10%
yield loss. Using an environmental stress model, our analysis revealed
that farmers' perception of crop damage risk was influenced by their
experience with wildlife and crop damage, their coping appraisals (e.g.,
accessibility of prevention measures and compensation), and individual
motivations. Our results indicate that while compensation can be
effective, its success to increase tolerance to crop damage varies most
likely based on farmers’ values and how they perceive administrative
challenges. Effective management of wildlife-related crop damage near and
within protected areas should thus combine compensation schemes with
tailored communication and crop damage prevention strategies involving
governmental authorities, farmers, and other stakeholders.