Using Human Ecology and Feedback-Guided Analysis to Understand the Relationship Between Ecotourism and Poaching

The inherent complexity of social-ecological systems (SES) can make them difficult to understand and manage, particularly with regards to human-wildlife issues such as poaching. This study uses an approach to human ecology that uses conceptual models and templates within feedback-guided analysis to analyze the complex relationship between ecotourism and poaching in a marine protected area in the Dominican Republic. Our findings show that the application of these templates through a sequenced process is advantageous as it: (i) enables a comprehensive understanding of SES; (ii) helps manage complexity as a system; and (iii) allows researchers to identify the feedback structures driving human-environment interactions that may perpetuate ecosystem decline. These benefits represent a valuable starting point for more comprehensive policy-making and management.