Human-nature relationships: An introduction to social-ecological practice theory for human-wildlife interactions

Conservation science requires a balance of social and ecological perspectives to understand human-wildlife interactions. We look for an integrative social-ecological framework that emphasizes equal representation across social and ecological conservation sciences. In this perspective, we suggest social-ecological practice theory, an integration of general ecological theory and anthropology's practice theory, for a conservation-minded social-ecological framework to better theorize human-nature relationships. Our approach deliberately pulls from subdisciplines of anthropology, specifically a body of social theory founded by anthropology and social science called practice theory. We then illustrate how to apply social-ecological practice theory to our case study in the Makgadikgadi region of Botswana. We highlight how the practices of people, lions, and cattle-in combination with environmental and structural features-provide the needed context to deepen the understanding of human-wildlife conflict in the region. Social-ecological practice theory highlights the complexity that exists on the landscape, and may more effectively result in conservation strategies for human-wildlife coexistence.

Automated summary

Conservation science requires a balance of social and ecological perspectives to understand human-wildlife interactions. We propose a social-ecological practice theory as a framework to better theorize human-nature relationships. Through a case study in the Makgadikgadi region of Botswana, we demonstrate the application of social-ecological practice theory to deepen the understanding of human-wildlife conflict. The theory highlights the complexity on the landscape and can lead to more effective conservation strategies for human-wildlife coexistence.