Colorado State University Professors Honored With Wildlife Society Book of the Year Award

The Wildlife Society has recognized the book, “Wildlife and Society: The Science of Human Dimensions,” as the 2009 recipient of the Wildlife Publication Award from the outstanding edited book category. Three of the five authors reside at Colorado State University. They were acknowledged this month at the Wildlife Society’s 16th Annual Conference in Monterey, Calif.

The book addresses a growing area of study known as the human dimensions of fish and wildlife management.

“During most of the 20th century, biology informed sound wildlife management decisions. Increasingly, however, it is recognized that managing wildlife means managing people. That is where the social sciences can provide help,” said Michael J. Manfredo, book co-author and head of the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and of the Department of Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship at CSU. “The problems of wildlife management almost always involve the behavior of humans.”

For example, some issues involve understanding public demands for wildlife recreation, managing conflict among competing wildlife interests, educating the public about wildlife, ensuring the safety of people who encounter wildlife, and controlling poaching while helping create sustainable subsistence hunting.

“In the last 25 years a field of study has emerged to help managers in the ‘people management’ tasks of protecting wildlife. It is known as the human dimensions of wildlife,” said co-author Jerry J. Vaske, professor in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources.

“The topics we present in the book range from communication to law and we address issues such as subsistence and bushmeat in Africa to the decline of recreational hunting in the United States,” said Esther A. Duke, coordinator for the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources.

“Wildlife and Society: The Science of Human Dimension” is a unique piece in the way it presents the past, present and future research and application of the fish and wildlife fields. The book offers perspectives branching from a variety of academic disciplines and presents views of professionals from the United States, Europe, Africa and Latin America. These distinctive elements make the book an important new reference for professionals and community members concerned with environmental conservation and fish and wildlife management. The book was recently translated and released in Japan.

The Wildlife Society was founded in 1937 as an international professional and educational non-profit association. It strives to encourage wildlife professionals to conserve, promote and sustain wildlife resources for society’s benefit. The organization strongly believes in professional growth through a variety of outlets including peer-reviewed publications, conferences and working groups.

To order the book, “Wildlife and Society: The Science of Human Dimension,” visit http://www.islandpress.com/bookstore/details.php?prod_id=1702.

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