Navigating Human–Raptor Conflicts: Strategies for Risk Assessment, Mitigation, and Harmonious Coexistence

This Research Topic aims to expand our understanding of human–raptor interactions and conflicts, moving beyond frequently studied species to encompass the challenges faced by a diverse array of raptor species globally. It seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for identifying, quantifying, and mitigating the escalating issues that arise where raptor ecology intersects with human activities. In addition to ecological and infrastructural drivers, the topic explicitly welcomes work that examines how cultural context and societal attitudes shape human responses to raptors and, in turn, influence conflict patterns, tolerance, and conservation outcomes.Current research on human–raptor conflicts is often limited in scope, focusing on a narrow range of species. This leads to gaps in our knowledge regarding the prevalence and intensity of conflicts for many raptor species, the effectiveness of existing mitigation efforts, and the lack of standardized, quantitative tools for assessing conflict risk and prioritizing management. A broader, data-driven approach is essential for effective raptor conservation and sustainable human–wildlife coexistence—particularly one that integrates cross-cultural perspectives, accounts for emerging conflict settings (e.g., waste management sites), and considers raptor–human interactions in high-stakes environments such as airports and air traffic corridors.This Research Topic encourages investigations to:Characterize Diverse Conflicts: Document and categorize the full spectrum of human–raptor conflict types across a wide range of raptor species in various landscapes, including under-studied regions and socio-cultural contexts.Quantify Conflict Dynamics: Develop and apply robust quantitative methodologies to assess the prevalence, severity, and underlying drivers of specific conflicts, evaluating impacts on both raptor populations and human interests.Assess Risk: Create and implement frameworks for evaluating the risk of conflict occurrence and the vulnerability of different raptor species and human assets, incorporating spatial, temporal, and human-dimension predictors.Evaluate Mitigation Efficacy: Critically assess the effectiveness of current and proposed mitigation strategies using evidence-based approaches.Develop Prioritized Strategies: Design, test, and recommend novel, evidence-based, and context-specific mitigation strategies, using risk assessment data for prioritization.Researchers should explore conflicts related to:Nesting and Roosting: Disturbance near human infrastructure, competition for sites, and public safety concerns.Predation: Perceived or actual predation on valued human assets (e.g., domestic animals, aquaculture).Collisions and Electrocutions: Mortality resulting from contact with human-built structures and vehicles, including research on how raptor aggregations near airports and flight paths may influence air traffic activities and aviation safety, and how these risks can be assessed and mitigated.Agricultural Impacts: Persecution, secondary poisoning from pesticides, and habitat alteration.Infrastructure Damage: Impacts from raptor activities on human structures.Human Perception and Cultural Dimensions: Negative public sentiment leading to intolerance or persecution, as well as cross-cultural variation in beliefs, values, and practices related to raptors and how these differences shape conservation outcomes and conflict mitigation success.Waste and Resource Subsidies (e.g., Landfills): The use of landfills and other anthropogenic food sources by raptors, and how these predictable resources may alter raptor behavior, aggregation patterns, exposure to contaminants, and the likelihood of conflict (including spillover into urban areas, farms, and airports).By focusing on a wider range of raptor species and employing rigorous quantitative methods—while explicitly integrating cultural context and emerging conflict settings—this topic aims to significantly advance the field of human–wildlife conflict resolution and promote effective raptor conservation alongside sustainable human–wildlife coexistence. Topic editors: Scott Rush, Adrián Naveda-Rodríguez Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/74186/navigating-human-raptor-conflicts-strategies-for-risk-assessment-mitigation-and-harmonious-coexistence