Flanders' First Wolf Pack: Publics' Sensemaking and Place-Based Knowledge in Social Media Conversations

Area of Science:

• Human Ecology
• Conservation Social Science
• Science Communication

Background:

• Ecological changes, such as gray wolf recolonization in Europe, present novel challenges for public understanding and acceptance.
• The return of wolves to the Flanders Region (Belgium) after two centuries marks a significant ecological event with profound societal implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how the public makes sense of unprecedented ecological changes, specifically the recolonization by gray wolves.
• To identify the sensemaking activities and knowledge sources employed by social media users discussing wolf presence.
• To explore the potential of place-based knowledge in navigating human-wolf coexistence.

Main Methods:

• Interpretive qualitative study utilizing ethnographic observation of social media conversations.
• Analysis of public discourse on government social media platforms following wolf-related events.
• Focus on sensemaking activities related to wolf arrival and pack establishment.

Main Results:

• Identified four key sensemaking activities: creating welcoming sentiments, assessing survival chances, anticipating disruptions, and explaining wolves' existence.
• Observed a reliance on abstract knowledge and analogies that did not fully resolve uncertainties.
• Highlighted the dynamic and self-triggering nature of the public sensemaking process.

Conclusions:

• Public sensemaking involves a complex interplay of emotions, assessments, and explanations, often relying on abstract information.
• Despite reliance on abstract knowledge, uncertainties persist in human-wolf coexistence scenarios.
• Place-based knowledge offers a promising avenue for enhancing public understanding and facilitating coexistence by incorporating diverse experiential perspectives.