2026/06/14 by Katrina Marsden, Hanna Pettersson, Tasos Hovardas +5 · 1 voice
Environmental Science · #Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology #Wildlife Ecology and Conservation #Ecology and biodiversity studies
paper · doi:10.1002/pan3.70366
openalex publication_date 2026/06/14 · openalex created_date 2026/06/15 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
Abstract High nature value (HNV) pastoral systems, that is those maintained by herding, transhumance and extensive grazing practices, are recognised as cornerstones of European biodiversity, cultural heritage and ecosystem service provision. Yet these systems are currently under significant pressure from a range of economic, social and environmental drivers. The recovery of large carnivore populations across Europe, while representing a major conservation success, constitutes an additional significant pressure. Pastoral systems are predominantly located in marginal and remote areas, maintained by the grazing of extensive livestock or reindeer, and are thus both at the frontline of carnivore recovery and most vulnerable to negative impacts, such as depredation. This Special Feature, bringing together 15 interdisciplinary contributions spanning pastoral and rangeland systems across Europe, the Americas, and Central and East Asia, is published at a critical juncture in European wildlife, nature restoration and agricultural policy, while also coinciding with the UN International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralism. It aims to advance integrated and interdisciplinary knowledge of coexistence with carnivores in HNV pastoralist landscapes. This editorial discusses the joint challenges, solutions and research gaps highlighted by the contributions. Three primary and systemic drivers are identified as undermining pastoral resilience and associated coexistence capacity with large carnivores: the loss of mobility and common resources; unfavourable market and policy environments; and shifting social and institutional contexts. A central finding across contributions is that large carnivore impacts (including depredation) must not be treated as an isolated issue, but as one feature within this broader socio‐environmental context of challenges and drivers of vulnerability in pastoral landscapes. Alongside these pressures, the feature also highlights enabling conditions for coexistence, including place‐based approaches, co‐production of knowledge, participatory governance platforms, maintained local institutions and the meaningful integration of pastoralists' expertise. The feature concludes with calls for better coordination between agricultural and conservation policy, enhanced and holistic protection of pastoral systems' resilience, and for treating coexistence as an iterative, adaptive process requiring sustained institutional commitment and trusting relationships with local communities. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.