Exploring Human-Wildlife Coexistence Through the Lens of Value Pluralism Among Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs).

A nuanced understanding of human-wildlife coexistence (HW-coexistence) is necessary to develop effective conservation approaches that are socially just and culturally sensitive. Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) are central to such efforts, given their diverse perspectives and values regarding interacting with wildlife. This paper focuses on understanding how pluralistic values of IPLCs can inform more nuanced perspectives of human-wildlife coexistence. Through a critical interpretive synthesis (CIS), we showed how the value pluralism of IPLCs begets and enriches the complexities and dynamics of coexistence. We identified a range of values held by IPLCs, such as reciprocity, tolerance, trust, and acceptance, among others. Finally, we developed a conceptual framework grounded in value pluralism that portrays the fluid and overlapping positive, negative, and ambivalent relationships between IPLCs and wildlife. The framework can act as a conceptual tool in conservation decision-making to construct and implement inclusive and adaptable conservation strategies that acknowledge the inherent value pluralism within IPLCs interacting with wildlife.