Conservation in a socio-ecological context

  • We evaluate how values and beliefs affect conservation behavior of private lands' owners

    By using the Values-Beliefs-Norms framework, we investigate how private lands owners are prone to conservation freshwater turtle habitat

  • We are also interested to understand the bridges and barriers toward conservation on private lands

    By using a series of workshops with private land owners, we examined how several social challenges (i.e,, finances, mobilisation, law and regulation) and conservation tools are perceived toward a better social acceptance of conservation measures on private lands.

  • We are also interested to better understand human-nature conflicts and how they can be attenuated

    Transition zones between natural and human-modified spaces are eroding, resulting in increased contact between humans and wildlife. We will examine citizen’s perceptions and attitudes toward fauna from urban and peri-urban areas and animal behaviors to come up with strategies and recommendations to reduce conflicts.

Projects in progress …

  • The perceptions and attitudes of visitors of Temblant National Park toward (Sépaq) carnivores and mesocarnivores

    This study explores the perceptions, attitudes and behaviors of visitors of a National Park toward carnivores and mesocarnivores to help park managers to reduce negative interactions with the fauna and improve communication plans.

    Louve Swennen
    MSc thesis

  • Engaging citizens in research to enhance tick-borne diseases in peri-urban nature parks

    Factors like climate change and habitat fragmentation can facilitate the spread of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) in peri-urban parks. It is therefore critical to implement interventions that can limit impact on human and ecosystem health in a sustainable way.

    Manon Boiteux
    PhD thesis
    Projet Parcs en Santé

  • Caribou as a Catalyst for Territorial Tensions: Reconfiguration of Land Use and the “Post-Staples” Transition in Haute-Gaspésie

    The protection of the mountain caribou has become a central issue in regional development. Faced with a drastic collapse in populations, the provincial and federal governments will need to implement policies to protect the species and avoid conflicts.

    Antoine Blier-Dufresne
    MSc thesis

… Projects finished

  • The impacts of values-beliefs-norms on pro-environmental actions to conserve freshwater turtles habitats in Québec

    This study explored the determinants of environmental behavior towards endangered and threatened freshwater turtles and their habitats to better understand private landowners’ decision-making and adapt conservation programs.

    Juliette Vélu MSc thesis | CESCO chair

  • Enhancing community capacity to conserve habitats on private lands: Understanding deficiencies in social capital

    Conservation on private lands has sometime failed because of limits regarding the creation of positive relationships to support community capacity and landowner engagement. Here, we study how social relationships shape conservation governance through the concept of social capital.

    Louis Tanguay postdoc | CESCO chair