People Management

A vital part of modern wildlife resource management is people management, in the forms of conservation education, public relations, regulations, and information and education. Wildlife resources can be managed better if people consider themselves part of the wildlife system and behave accordingly.

People management includes stopping certain behaviors like dumping, setting forest fires, and poaching. Preventing people from disturbing animals and from impairing wildlife use by others has been part of the wildlife law enforcement mission for years.

People are encouraged to identify certain animals perhaps never recognized in an area, thus expanding our known wildlife resources. Training improves field techniques, making people better observers.

Access to wildlife, such as building roads or providing for transportation of people to experience the wild animal resource can be viewed as people management. Similarly, keeping people out of the woods using closure signs, rules, and gates during critical nesting or breeding periods also is a form of people management.

Often the resources of areas need marketing. And it is important to ensure safety by requiring safe-color garments or special equipment, and by providing training.