Plymouth State University to host lecture on human-carnivore coexistence

PLYMOUTH — Plymouth State University will host Fikirte Erda, Ph.D., for a Saul O Sidore lecture on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m., examining the complex dynamics of human-carnivore coexistence in multi-use landscapes such as national parks or biosphere reserves.

The lecturve, entitled “Beliefs meet ‘beasts’: How culture shapes human carnivore interactions,” draws on research conducted in western Ethiopia. Erda, an assistant professor of natural resources and the environment at the University of New Hampshire, is a spatial and large carnivore ecologist with more than a decade of experience in wildlife conservation and research across East Africa.

Moving beyond traditional measures of conflict, Erda’s work explores how cultural values, local perceptions and tolerance influence conservation outcomes. In order to develop sustainable coexistence strategies that support both people and wildlife, Erda argues one cannot sidestep the importance of social dimensions, cultural context and community engagement.

For more information, visit plymouth.edu/sidore.