Session Summary

Trust in science and scientists influences public opinion about environmental and scientific issues. Trust is a key component of public acceptance of government policy, especially when policy issues are complicated,... [ view full abstract ]

Trust in science and scientists influences public opinion about environmental and scientific issues. Trust is a key component of public acceptance of government policy, especially when policy issues are complicated, controversial or uncertain. Given the uncertainty, complexity, and controversy involved in the management of wildlife, trust is likely to be a critical heuristic, or shortcut, that influences public acceptance of wildlife management decisions. While the importance of trust in collaborative governance has been recognized (Ostrom 1990; Ansell & Gash, 2008), the "subjectivity of trust" (Davenport 2007, p. 364) within the context of wildlife management has received limited attention, though several recent publications have begun to address this topic (see Smith 2013; Stern & Coleman 2014; Stern & Baird 2015; Horton et al. 2015; Hamm 2017). The purpose of this session is to build upon this foundation by bringing experts together from around the country to share ideas about the role of public perceptions of trust and credibility in wildlife management. While trust in agencies is currently high, particularly among the constituents they serve (e.g., hunters, anglers), public trust in government, science, and traditional media outlets has declined over the last 50 years. The proposed panel discussion aligns with the conference theme of "FUTURES" by exploring the role of trust and credibility in public perceptions of wildlife management agencies, public acceptance of current and proposed agency initiatives, controversial management decisions, and public engagement efforts. In addition, we will address the link between lack of trust in government generally, and a lack of trust in agencies to fulfill their mission. A complete understanding of how trust affects public acceptance of wildlife and natural resource policies and encourages collaborative decision-making could improve efforts to address current and future conservation challenges.