Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The return of the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) to the capital of Spain where the large carnivore
was absent for decades opens up a plural landscape of opinions, attitudes and understandings. Using a
phenomenological approach, actors involved were interviewed to assess perspectives, understandings
and expectations regarding landscape, livelihood and wildlife conservation. The secrecy about the
information, the underlying effects of wolves attacks on livestock and game, the fragmented legal
landscape, the precarious system of the extensive farming and the absences of satisfactory democratic
processes to air out these tensions are some of the factors that intricate and add confusion to the
situation, turning the wolf into the main driver of disagreement energies. Using the presence of the
wolf in Madrid as the framework, the study explores and ultimately challenges presumptions on
human–wildlife label and conflict designation and presents the facets and vectors for conflict that
define the case context. Finally, the theoretical debate on deliberative democracy and agonistic
pluralism participatory theories helped to unravel a widespread discontentment and distrust heading
toward a crisis of legitimacy where environmental agencies are failing to accommodate all
perspectives.