Farmer attitudes towards wildlife in the Vaca Forest reserve, Belize

Abstract

ABSTRACT It is essential to incorporate local stakeholder attitudes and values into management plans to ensure their longevity and success. Belize represents an important case study because of its identification of key biodiversity areas and commitment to sustainably manage these areas through co-management strategies. This article examined farmers’ attitudes towards wildlife and wildlife value orientations in the Vaca Forest Reserve, Belize. Our target population only included farmers in the reserve, as one purpose was to determine if farmer attitudes were conducive to serving as partners in wildlife conservation efforts in the reserve. Farmers had positive attitudes towards native wildlife and primarily expressed mutualist or pluralist wildlife value orientations, suggesting that they will be more likely to support future wildlife conservation initiatives.