A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Factors promoting hunting groups’ sustainable harvest of moose in a co-management system




AuthorsTuominen Laura S., Wikström Mikael, Helanterä Heikki, Karell Patrik, Pusenius Jyrki, Rapeli Lauri, Ruha Leena, Vuorisalo Timo, Brommer Jon E.

PublisherSpringer Nature

Publication year2023

JournalScientific Reports

Journal name in sourceScientific Reports

Article number21076

Volume13

ISSN2045-2322

eISSN2045-2322

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48348-2(external)

Web address https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-48348-2(external)

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/182326597(external)


Abstract

Collaboration between and within management levels and involvement of local communities (co-management) increases sustainable management of natural resources. In Finland, moose (Alces alces) are harvested by hunting groups within a co-management system, providing meat and social benefits. We computed the 14-year change in moose harvest (2007–2020) for 4320 hunting groups. Moose harvest declined on average 1.1% per year, but with substantial variation in moose harvest changes between the hunting groups. We extracted information describing the collaboration between the hunting groups, their democratic status as well as leader dynamics, and the year of establishment. A hunting group’s moose harvest was more stable (i.e. declined less) when the hunting group was (1) established a longer time ago; (2), had more changes in leadership over time, but did not depend on collaboration with other local hunting groups (in terms of jointly holding moose hunting licenses), whether the hunting group was a registered society (presumed to be more democratic than a non-registered one) or had consecutive leaders that shared a surname (presumed to be related). We conclude that encouraging resource users’ early establishment in groups and groups’ long-term persistence and promoting democratic leadership roles improves stable benefits from a natural resource in a co-management system.


Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.





Last updated on 2025-27-03 at 22:02