A household perspective for wildlife conservation in coupled human and natural systems

Identifying human society and the natural environment as separate systems is the most fundamental challenge facing wildlife conservation. Human society cannot conserve wildlife without understanding the relationship between natural and social processes, and then applying that understanding in the policy arena. This dissertation focuses on assessing the role of households as a nexus in coupled human and natural systems (CHANS). Under this goal I address 4 objectives: (1) evaluate the relationship between global wildlife endangerment and household density in biodiversity hotspot nations, (2) explore how households mediate the relationship between social and natural systems using the outdoor recreation and environmental view relationship, (3) identify socio-demographic variables explaining variation in household location decisions with direct impacts on natural systems and wildlife conservation and consider potential feedbacks in the model of environmental behavior, and (4) use a systems modeling approach to predict land use change in Teton Valley (Idaho and Wyoming) by integrating immigration, home construction, household location decisions, and different policy scenarios.; I use linear multiple regression models to demonstrate that household density provides a viable alternative statistical hypothesis to human population density for explaining species endangerment at the global level (household model, r2 = 0.85; population model, r2 = 0.84). I then suggest adopting a household perspective for biodiversity conservation because social norms and practices render a household approach to conservation more pragmatic than a human population perspective. I addressed the final objectives using data from a survey of Teton Valley residents. Results suggested environmentally oriented views relate positively to appreciative outdoor recreation participation and negatively to non-appreciative outdoor recreation participation for participants and their non-participating household members. Older and highly educated immigrants with the most environmentally oriented worldviews chose to live in natural areas (e.g., riparian zones, wetlands, critical winter range for wildlife) in disproportionately high numbers, and required significantly more homes per person than other groups. Length of residency was negatively related to more environmentally oriented worldviews. Simulation results from the systems model suggest cluster development was the most important strategy for protecting open space. Growth slowing restrictions, or lack thereof, were the most important policies for regulating home construction. Finally composite rankings favored high levels of cluster development and not implementing growth slowing restrictions or a vacation home ban. This simulation model may also be a simple and intuitive tool for other regions where conservation goals appear to clash with the economic well being of people.; Aside from establishing the importance of household dynamics for wildlife conservation, this research helps establish a new interdisciplinary approach for CHANS research that focuses on homes as expressions of environmental views and behavior. The methods may be applied in many other areas where communities struggle to meet the needs of wildlife and humans in CHANS.